Étienne Delaune’s engraving, “The Separation of Abraham and Lot”, c1560

Étienne Delaune (aka Stephanus) (c1518–83) Note: Delaune signed his prints “Stephanus” or “S. Goldsmith”, hence the name “Stephan[u]s” inscribed on this plate at lower right.

“The Separation of Abraham and Lot” (aka “La Séparation de Loth et d'Abraham”), c1560 (1550–1572), plate 15 from the series of 36 engravings, “The Genesis” (aka “Histoire de la Genèse”).

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 7.9 x 10.6 cm; (image borderline) 6.9 x 10.4 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “STEPHANVS F CV PRI REGIS”;

Lettered on plate in three lines below the image borderline: (centre) “GENESIS, 13./ SEPARATANTVR ABRAHAM ET LOTH ALTER AB ALTERO,/ EO QVOD REGIO PECORIBVS VTRIVSQZ NON SVFFTCERET” ([Transl.] “Abraham and Lot separate, because the region is not enough for their different herds.” [see https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/joconde/00130129656]).

State i (of ii)

Robert-Dumesnil 38 (A P F Robert-Dumesnil 1835, “Le Peintre-Graveur Français”, Paris, G Warée, vol. 9, p. 31, cat. no. 38); IFF 39 (André Linzeler 1932, “Inventaire du Fonds Français. Graveurs du XVIe Siècle”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, vol. I, p. 225, cat. no. 39); Le Blanc 36 (Ch. Le Blanc 1856, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, Paris, vol. 2, p. 503, cat. no. 36).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 15: Lot parting from Abraham, taking his flock and people with him”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1834-0804-125).

See other prints by Delaune along with excellent explanations offered by Spaightwood Galleries: http://spaightwoodgalleries.com/Pages/Delaune.html.

See also the insights about Delaune offered by the Victoria and Albert Museum: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/engraved-ornament-project/life-and-work-etienne-delaune-1.

Condition: a very delicate lifetime impression trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark in very good condition.

I am selling this lifetime impression of a small and finely crafted engraving—executed when Michelangelo was sculpting his “Rondanini Pietà” (1552–1564)—for the total cost of AU$298 (currently US$228.26/EUR192.24/GBP164.98 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this sensitively rendered masterpiece of engraving showing two episodes from Genesis (Old Testament)—the foreground illustrates the parting of Abraham and Lot [Genesis 13:11]; the background illustrates the shepherds arguing [Genesis 13:7]—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