Jan Saenredam’s engraving, “Elisha Taking the Cloak of Elijah …” (2nd copy), 1604, after Abraham Bloemaert

Jan Saenredam (c1565–1607)

“Elisha Taking the Cloak of Elijah, who Ascends to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire” (TIB title), 1604, from the series “Prophets Ahias and Elijah” after Abraham Bloemaert (aka Abraham Bloemaart) (1564–1651), published by Jan Saenredam and with Latin verses by Theodorus Schrevelius (1572–1649/53).

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed along the image borderline with the text lines below and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27.3 x 19.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (right of centre at lower edge) “A. Bloemaert inuen,/ J. Saenredam Sculp, 4”.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline in two columns of two lines of Latin text: “Helias, ... tendit”.

State ii (of iii) Note that the BM holds a copy with the plate numbered “2” (D,7.89) but no information is given regarding the state number in the references. This impression and the second state impression held by the Rijksmuseum (RP-P-H-M-12) show the plate numbered “4”, consequently I assume that this impression is from the second state as I can see no differences in both impressions, but I do not have information regarding changes to the plate made in the third state to confirm my attribution.

TIB Bartsch 4.23 (227) (Walter L Strauss [ed.) 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 4, p. 332); Bartsch (1803) III.226.23 (Note that this ref. to Bartsch is made by the BM but I believe it may be wrong and the true number is III.227.23) (Bartsch, Adam, “Le Peintre graveur”, 21 vols, Vienna, 1803); Hollstein Dutch 15-2(3) (Hollstein, F W H 1949, “Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts c.1450-1700”, Amsterdam); Roethlisberger 1993 82 (Marcel G Roethlisberger 1993, “Abraham Bloemaert and his Sons: Paintings and Prints”, 2 vols, Ghent).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Elisha and Elijah's chariot of fire; Elisha kneels and reaches towards the sky towards a chariot ascending to heaven and a cloak that falls to the ground (2 Kings 2:11); after Bloemaert” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_D-7-89).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: (Transl.) “The prophet Elisha in the foreground. He kneels and looks in disbelief at Elijah, who is led to heaven in a fiery chariot. Elia's coat falls out of the car[t]. The print has a Latin text in the bottom margin” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.169235).

Condition: a well-printed impression trimmed around the image borderline and retaining the text lines below, laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond a mark below Elisha’s right hand, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

Note that this is the second copy of this print that I have listed. The previous copy has been sold.

I am selling this engraving of exceptional quality and elegant beauty for the total cost of AU$434 (currently US$307.84/EUR298.63/GBP251.95 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but no (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this major engraving of the highest level of technical brilliance, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold