Lucas van Leyden’s engraving, “St John”, c1511

Lucas van Leyden (aka Lucas de Leyda Hollandus; Luca Dolanda; Lucas Hugensz; Lucas Jacobsz) (c1494–1533)

“St John” (aka “De apostel Johannes”; “S. Jean l’évangéliste”), c1511 (TIB dating), plate 5 in the series of fourteen plates, “Christ, Paul and the Twelve Apostles.”

Engraving on laid paper trimmed with a thread margin around the image borderline and stamped verso with the collector’s mark of Alfred Morrison (1821–1897) (Lugt 151). Frits Lugt (2002) in “Les Marques de Collections de Dessins & d’Estampes” offers the following insights about this collector: (Transl.) “Alfred Morrison was one of the most ardent collectors of his time; his mansions at Fonthill, and at the Carlton House Terraces in London, were filled with works of art. … [the works that he collected] were generally of exceptional quality” (p. 27).

Size: (sheet) 11.9 x 7.4 cm.

Lettered in plate with the letter "L" at lower left next to the saint's feet

TIB 12 (7). 90 (388) (Walter L Strauss et al. [eds.] 1981, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 12, New York, Abaris Books, p. 223, cat. no. 90 [388]); New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 90 (Piet Filedt Kok [comp.] 1996, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Lucas van Leyden”, Amsterdam, Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum Sound and Vision Interactive, p. 103, cat. no. 90); Bartsch VII.388.90.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“St John the Evangelist; holding a chalice with a serpent in his left hand and raising his right hand in blessing. c.1510 Engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Kk-6-106).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.33738.

Condition: a well-printed silvery impression, trimmed along the platemark with a thread margin around the image borderline and a collector’s stamp verso. The upper left and right corners have restoration work and there are are areas of thinness (visible when the print is held to the light); otherwise, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this early engraving by one of the major old masters for AU$446 (currently US$342.36/EUR298.70/GBP254.86 at the time of posting this listing) including 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 executed and important engraving, 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