Jan Saenredam’s engraving, “Diana discovers Callisto's pregnancy”, 1599, after Goltzius Jan Saenredam (c1565–1607)

Jan Saenredam (c1565–1607)

“Diana discovers Callisto's pregnancy” (aka “Diana ontdekt de zwangerschap van Callisto” [Rijksmuseum title]); “Diana Ordering Her Nymphs to Strip Callisto Who Tries in Vain to Hide Her Pregnancy” [TIB title]; “Dine ordonnant à ses nymphes de dépouiller Calisto” [Bartsch title]), 1599, after the design of Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617), with Imperial Privilege from Rudolf II van Habsburg (1552–1612) and two lines of Latin lettered below the image by Cornelis Schonaeus (1541–1611). This is a first state, lifetime impression before the addition of the publication details for Hendrick Hondius I (1573–1650) (state ii) and the details for Claes Jansz. Visscher II (1587–1652) (state iii).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed close to the image borderline on the top and sides and with the writing edge below, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 21.7 x 30.3 cm; (image borderline) 20.1 x 30 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “HGoltzius Inuent./ I. Saenredam Sculp.”; (centre) “Cum privil. Sa. Cæ. M./ 1599.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left of centre) “Dum detrectanti .../ … crimen.”; (right of centre) “Cornelius Schoneus.”

State i (of iii)

TIB 4.52 (Walter L. Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Matham; Saenredam; Muller”, vol., 4, New York, Abaris Books, p. 368, cat. no. 52); Hollstein Dutch 77-1(3) (George Shepard Keyes [comp.] 1980, “The New Hollstein: German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts c1450–1700: Jan Saenredam to Roelandt Savery”, vol., 23, Amsterdam, Van Gendt & Co, p. 60, cat. no. 77).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “The naked Diana with her nymphs in the wilderness. Diana points accusingly at Callisto, whose clothes are pulled aside by the nymphs to reveal her pregnancy. The print has a Latin caption” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.169282).

Condition: a well-printed lifetime impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this superb lifetime (first state) impression of what I see as a masterwork of engraving executed in 1599, for the total cost of AU$689 (currently US$459.82/EUR421.34/GBP370.14 at the time of 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 spectacularly 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