Jan Luyken, “Top Floor of Noah’s Ark,” 1690

Jan Luyken (aka Jan Luijken) (1649–1712), or an artist from his circle

“Top Floor of Noah’s Ark,” or “Derde of Bovenste Verdieping der Arke”(Third or Top Floor of the Ark) — plan view of the top floor of Noah’s Ark, revealing the living quarters for Noah and his family, along with stalls for birds, 1690

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching printed on laid paper with full margins and gatefolds, as published. This large print is plate 1025 from volume 2 of Wilhelmus Goeree’s “Preparations for Biblical Wisdom and the Use of Sacred and Ecclesiastical History,” published in Amsterdam in 1690. The sheet is laid upon a support of archival-quality washi paper, which allows the published folds of the large print to be flattened and supported. The impression is strong and well-printed—near flawless. The sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 33 x 54.8 cm
• Platemark: 27.6 x 51.6 cm
• Image borderline: 27 x 51.2 cm

Plate Lettering (with translation of the Dutch text):

• Upper centre: “Derde/ of Bovenste Verdieping/ der ARKE,/ alwaar de Woonplaatsen voor NOACH/ en syn Huisgezin, beneffens alle de/ Koojen en Nesten der Vogelen, seer/ ordentlyk geplaatst waaren.” (Third or Top Floor of the Ark, where the dwellings for Noah and his family, as well as all the cages and nests of the birds, were very neatly arranged.)
• Upper right corner: “1025”
• Centre (with explanatory text for each stall): “Grond vlakten der Derde Verdieping.” (Ground levels of the third floor.)
• Lower centre: “de Arke in haar Bovenste verdieping, op de lengde van dry-honderd ellen in onderscheide Woonplaatsen voor Menschen en Vogelen in Opstal afgedeeld.” (The Ark in its uppermost storey, on the length of three hundred cubits, divided into distinct dwelling places for people and birds in the building.)

References:
• Van Eeghen 1131 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 1, p. 193, cat. no. [11]31 [see https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen00kellgoog/page/n296/mode/2up])
• Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200223349

Price & Shipping:
AU$288 (approximately US$205.01 / €173.48 / £152.05), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you're interested in acquiring this remarkable etching—offering a detailed plan of how the animals could have been accommodated on Noah’s Ark (noting that the birds of paradise in the stall labelled “BB” are depicted flying, as at the time, these birds were thought never to land and were sometimes portrayed with nests on their backs!)—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold