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

Wednesday, 8 April 2026

(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert, ““The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard”, c. 1596, after Jan van der Straet

(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert (circa 1560–1618)

“The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard” (aka “Keizer Commodus doodt een luipaard met een pijl” [Emperor Commodus kills a leopard with an arrow]), circa 1596

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on fine laid paper. This print is plate 14 from the series of 104 engravings titled “Hunting Parties” (also known as “Venationes Ferarum, Bird, and Fish”). The design is after Jan van der Straet (also known as Joannes Stradanus and Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), and the engraving was published in Antwerp by Philips Galle (1537–1612).

This impression is from the second state (of three), prior to being reworked and published by Philips Galle’s grandson, Joannes Galle (also known as Ioan Galle and Jan Galle) (1600–1676), who modified the figures in the background. A third state impression of this print, which I previously listed, can be viewed at: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2021/07/attrib-adriaen-collaerts-engraving.html.

The impression is strong and well-printed—nearly faultless. The sheet is in near-pristine condition for its age, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or signs of handling.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 22.3 x 30.6 cm
• Platemark: 20.3 x 27 cm
• Image borderline: 18.3 x 26.6 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Within the image borderline on lower edge: (left of centre) “Ioan. Stradanus inuent.”; (right of centre) “Phls Galle excud.”
• Below the image borderline: (left) “14”; (two lines of two columns at centre) “Pensilis è cauea Tigris rabiosa theatre / Erumpit vinclis, hominiq[ue] occurrit inermi, // Quem ne dilaceret fera bellua, Commodus arcu / Impedit, atq[ue] feræ iacit in præcordia telum.”

References:

• New Hollstein 513.II (Marjolein Leesberg [comp.], “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Johannes Stradanus”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Sound & Vision, p.193, cat. no. 513)
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1856-0712-440
• Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.97378
• Archive.org offers an online view of the publication, “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium”, in which this engraving appears: https://archive.org/details/printboeck00stra/page/n89/mode/2up

Price & Shipping:

AU$307 (approximately US$216.48 / €185.15 / £161.30), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this fascinating glimpse into Roman life during the reign of Emperor Commodus—an era marked by his megalomania, statues portraying him as Hercules, and the renaming of Rome to “Colonia Commodiana”—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will be happy to provide a PayPal invoice to facilitate a smooth and secure purchase.

This print has been sold