Étienne Delaune, ““God Commanding Noah to Enter the Ark”, c.1560

Étienne Delaune (aka Stephanus) (c. 1518–1583)
“God Commanding Noah to Enter the Ark” (or “Dieu ordonnant à Noé d'entrer dans l'Arche”), circa 1560 (1550–1572)

Technical Details & Condition:
Engraving on laid paper, trimmed around the image borderline, mounted on a support sheet providing wide margins. This is plate 10 from the series of 36 engravings, “The Genesis” (also known as “Histoire de la Genèse”). It is a first state (lifetime) impression, before a lowercase “i” was inserted between the last two letters of the word “DIXT” in the Latin inscription on the writing edge. For an explanation of the two states of this print, see Robert-Dumesnil [1865] on page 30, cat. no. 33, and compare this first state impression with the second state held by the Louvre: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl020576829.

The impression is strong and well-printed. Aside from restored fractures in the writing edge, the image area is free of tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

Dimensions:
• Sheet: 7.7 x 10.5 cm
• Image borderline: 6.9 x 10.5 cm

Lettering on Plate (with translation):
• Within the image borderline at lower left: “Cum Pri. Reg.” (with Royal Privilege) and “.S.F.” (Stephanus Fecit / made it)
• Below the image borderline at centre: “GENESE 7” (referring to Chapter 7 of the Book of Genesis) / “DIXT DOMINVS [AD] NOAH INCREDERE TV ET OMNIS DOMVS TVA / IN ARCA ET EX OMIN[V]IVMENTO ACCIPIES TIBI DE VOLVORE QVOOZ COELI” (The Lord said to Noah: Go into the ark, you and your entire family. And take with you every kind of living creature, including the birds of the sky.)

References:
• Robert-Dumesnil 33 (A.P.F. Robert-Dumesnil, “Le peintre-graveur français, ou catalogue raisonné des estampes gravées par les peintres et les dessinateurs de l'école française: ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de Bartsch”, vol. 9, 1865, Paris, Bouchard-Huzard, p. 30, cat. no. 33). See https://archive.org/details/bnf-bpt6k65575421/page/n51/mode/2up
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Gg-4D-95

Price & Shipping:
AU$298 (approximately US$211.02 / €178.35 / £155.95), including worldwide express shipping.
Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this jewel-like engraving depicting God giving instructions to Noah as the creatures of the world board the ark—note the interesting size relationship between the elephant entering the ark and the face of one of Noah’s sons welcoming it inside—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.