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

Saturday, 25 October 2025

Jan Sadeler I, “Saint Joannicius”, 1598, after Maarten de Vos

Jan Sadeler I (aka Johannes Sadeler; Johann Sadeler) (1550–1600)

“Saint Joannicius” (aka “Saint John of Bithynia as a Hermit”; “Heilige Johannicius van Bithynië als kluizenaar” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1598, after a lost drawing by Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1603). Plate 5, from a series of twenty-five engravings and the title plate, “Trophies of the Solitary Life” (aka “Trophaeum Vitae Solitariae”; “Het deugdzame leven van kluizenaars” [The Virtuous Life of Hermits]) made in collaboration with Raphael Sadeler I (1560/61–1628/32) who also engraved the title plate. Privilege for the printing of the engraving was granted by Clement VIII and the German emperor, Rudolf II of Habsburg.

Isabelle de Ramaix (2001) advises that Saint Joannicius retired to Mount Olympus in Bithynia after a career as a soldier. He died in 846 and is celebrated on 4 November (p. 252).

Engraving on fine laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 16.9 x 21.1 cm.

Inscribed within the image borderline at the lower left corner: “Marti de Vos figure. Ioā[n]. Sadeler scalpsit. cû[m] gratia et priuelegio. Sumi Pontificis et Cęs Mai.”

Lettered below the image borderline: “Quattuor … IOANNICIVS/ …// 5// …/ …tulit.”

State ii (of ii) with the addition of the plate number (“5”).

TIB 7001. 396 (Isabelle de Ramaix 2001, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 70, Part 2 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 252, cat. no. [7001].396 S2); Sénéchal 1987, no. 18; Hollstein 1980, vol. 21, no. 426; Edquist, p. 82, no 95b; Hollstein 1995–96, vol. 44, no. 1029.

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200248435.

Condition: a strong and well-printed, museum-quality, lifetime impression (based on the quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate). The sheet has been trimmed along the platemark and laid on an archival-quality millennium washi support providing wide margins. The sheet is in excellent condition, free from tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or stains.

Price & Shipping: AU$330 (approx. US$215.01/ €184.85 / £161.50), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this magnificent impression of a very beautiful and unusual engraving of the hermit saint, Joannicius of Bithynia, in his rock cave, 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