(attrib.) Johann Jacob von Sandrart’s engraving, “Amphora with Serpents as Handles”, 1675, after Agostino Veneziano

(attrib.) Johann Jacob von Sandrart (aka Johann Jakob von Sandrart) (1655–1698), or his father, Jacob von Sandrart (1630-1708)

“Amphora with Serpents as Handles” (aka “Antique Vessel”; “Antikes Prachtgefäß”), 1675, engraving in reverse after Agostino Veneziano’s (aka Agostino dei Musi) (fl.1509–1536) engraving, 1530 (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1873-1213-258), published in 1675 in Nuremberg by Jacob von Sandrart (1630–1708) and in Frankfurt am Main by Matthäus Merian II (1621–1687) as an illustration to Joachim von Sandrart’s (1606–1688), “Teutsche Academie der Edlen Bau- Bild- und Mahlerey-Künste …” (German Academy of the Noble Arts of Architecture, Sculpture and Painting)  (see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008279545/page/n365/mode/2up).

Engraving on laid paper with letterpress text verso as published, trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 34.6 x 27.1 cm; (sheet) 19.9 x 15.4 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper centre) “Götter, so die blinden Heyden zum anbeten vorgestellt,/ Man von allen rechten Christen billig vor verworffen hält./ Wan man aber nur allein Seine Kunst an ihnen zeiget,/ So ist es gar wol gethan, So hat man den Zweck erreichet.” (Gods, so presented to the blind heathen to worship,/ All true Christians justly hold them to be rejected./ But if one only shows one's art on them, then/ it is well done, then one has achieved the purpose.)

Regarding the inscription, Sandrart.net offers the following explanation: (transl.) “The verse of the vignette … contains two aspects of the relationship to antiquity. On the one hand, Sandrart addresses the overcoming of ‘pagan practice’ by Christianity and, on the other hand, he warns against orienting oneself only to the ancient art form and not to the pagan content (cf.Klemm 1994 , p. 13)” (http://ta.sandrart.net/de/artwork/view/372).  

Condition: a strong, well-inked and well-printed impression backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very beautiful engraving of an antique amphora with coiled serpent handles and featuring four dancing figures with a putto holding up an Oenochoe (wine jug), for the total cost of AU$239 (currently US$167.50/EUR159.22/GBP134.89 at the time of posting this print) 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 curiously interesting engraving of a Baroque designed antique amphora, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.