Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Monday, 7 July 2025

Albrecht Dürer, “The Virgin and Child with a Monkey”, c.1498

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

“The Virgin and Child with a Monkey”, c.1498, a 19^th century impression from the original plate. Note that this is NOT an Armand Durand heliogravure.

Engraving with pale plate tone on buff wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 21.3 x 15.4 cm; (plate) 18.9 x 12.3 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s monogram at lower centre: “AD”.

Condition: a strong impression showing very little wear to the printing plate with small margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

State i (of i)

TIB 1001.042 (Walter L. Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Sixteenth Century German Artists: Albrecht Dürer”, vol. 10 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, pp.99–102, cat. no. [1001].042 [B.42(60)]); Meder 30 (Joseph Meder 1932, “Dürer-Katalog: Ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen”, Vienna, cat. no. 30); Hollstein 30 (F.W.H Hollstein 1954–, “German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, c1400–1700”, vol. VII, Amsterdam, M. Hertzberger, cat. no. 30); Schoch, Mende, and Scherbaum 20 (Rainer Schoch, Matthias Mende, Anna Scherbaum 2001–04, “Albrecht Dürer, Das druckgraphische Werk”, vol. 1, Munich, Prestel cat. no. 20).

The Cleveland Museum of Art offers the following insightful description of this print: “Like his earliest engraving of the subject, Dürer portrayed the Madonna and Child within an enclosed garden. In addition to the garden, which refers to Mary’s virginity, the artist included other elements that reference each figure’s religious significance. The bird held by the Christ Child represents the souls that will be saved by his sacrifice while the chained monkey, a symbol of lust and greed, is tamed under the Madonna’s influence, thus reinforcing her purity and virtue. Done only a few years later than his Holy Family with Butterfly, the difference in the sculptural modelling of the figures and the skilful handling of the background show Dürer’s quick development as an engraver as well as the impact of his first visit to Italy in 1495-96” (https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1964.29).

See also descriptions of this print offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art; British Museum and Rijksmuseum: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/391053; https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_E-4-68; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.33142.

I am selling this original impression of one of Albrecht Dürer’s most famous engravings—note that it is not a copy after Dürer or heliogravure, but rather a genuine impression taken from Dürer’s original plate in the nineteenth century—for the total cost of AU$3000 (approx. US$1951.52, EUR 1659.77, or GBP 1434.02), including express worldwide shipping. Import duties, if applicable, are the buyer's responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this acknowledged masterwork of 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