Harmen Jansz. Muller’s engraving, “Joshua Defeating the Thirty-One Kings”, 1586

Harmen Jansz. Muller (1540–1617)

“Joshua Defeating the Thirty-One Kings”, 1585, plate 10 from the series, “Thesaurus sacrarum historiarum veteris testament …” (“A treasure of the sacred histories of the Old Testament, expressed in the most elegant images, by the works of the most excellent men in this art: now published for the first time”), after Gerard van Groeningen (aka Gerard Groenning; Gerardum Groeninghen; Gerard P Groenning; Gerrit van Groenwegen; Gerardo a Gruningen) (fl. 1550–1599), published in Antwerp by Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert de Jode; Geerart de Jode; Gerardo de Jode; Gheerde de Jode; Gheraerde de Jode; Girard de Jode; Gerard de Jode (1516/17–1591). There is a later edition (c1600) also published in Amsterdam by Claes Janszoon Visscher showing the addition of a comma after “SVI” and repetition of the plate number at the lower far right. This lifetime impression is from the earlier edition and still retains traces of guide lines for the lower lettering.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed around the image borderline, but retaining the writing edge, and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 32.3 x 39.3 cm; (sheet) 20.6 x 28.6 cm; (image borderline) 19 x 28.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline along the lower edge: (left of centre with artist’s monogram) “[HML], fecit”; (near centre) “10”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline with two lines in Latin: “RECENSITI SVNT REGES QVOS TRADIDIT DOMINVS IN MANVS ISRAELIS POPVLI/ SVI ET REPERTI SVNT TRIGINTA VNVS QVOS VICIT NECAVITO[QUE] IOSVE. Iosue. Cap: 12.”

State ii (of iii)

New Hollstein Dutch 28–2(3) (Harmen Jansz. Muller) (Ger Luijten [ed.] 1999, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: The Muller Dynasty”, vol. 1, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision, cat. no. 28); New Hollstein Dutch 50–2(3) (Gerard van Groeningen) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1997, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Gerard van Groeningen”, vol. 1, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 76, cat. no. 50); Michael 14–1(2).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “The thirty-one kings defeated by Joshua. Joshua, holding a [baton], subduing thirty-one kings from the lands he conquered with the Israelites; the kings seen on the ground, defeated as the sun sets (Joshua 12:7-24)” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1968-1018-1-85).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.530182.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed, near faultless, impression trimmed around the image borderline, but retaining the text lines, and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet has age toning, otherwise it is in a very good condition for its considerable age with no tears, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this magnificently rich, museum–quality impression exemplifying the period style of mannerism—viz. the use of theatrical gestures, dramatic lighting and flattening of pictorial space—for AU$304 (currently US$210.40/EUR196.97/GBP174.48 at the time of posting this listing), including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this exceptionally fine engraving, 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