Woodcut from the circle of Anton Woensam, “Lutetia”, c1561

Circle of Anton Woensam (aka Anton von Worms) (c1493/1496–c1541)

Note that this attribution is based on Anton Woensam’s woodcuts illustrating the works of St Augustine (see BM inv. no. 1900,1019.74), but there are stylistic and date discrepancies suggesting that this woodcut is unlikely to have executed by the hand of Anton Woensam.

“Lutetia”— the Gallo-Roman town that became the city of Paris, c1561 (dated in text), title-page with woodcut to volume 4 of the complete works of Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis (aka Augustine of Hippo; Saint Augustine) (354–430 AD), published in Paris in 1561 (as lettered on page):

“S. Avrelii Avgvstini Hipponensis Episcopi, Opvs Complectens Reliqva […] Per Theologos Lovanienses ab innummeris mendis repurgatum. Tomvs Quartvs Cvm Appendice eiusdem Tomi. Parisiis M. DC. LI. Cvm Privilegio Regis.” ([transl.] "St. Aurelius Augustinus, Bishop of Hippo, Complete Remains of the Opus [...] Purged by the Louvain Theologians from innumerable errors. Volume four with an appendix to the same volume. Paris. 1561 with royal privilege.”)

Woodcut with letterpress text printed in black and red (recto and verso) on fine laid paper with margins (as published), backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 41.5 x 27 cm.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with verso letterpress text visible through the thin paper. Beyond minor chipping along the binding edge and a closed tear on the lower edge, the sheet is in a very good condition for its age with no stains or foxing and has been laid upon a support of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this stunning woodcut of an early French ship—note the fleur-de-lis patterned sails, the Royal coat-of-arms of France on the port side and the former name for the city of Paris lettered in the distance (“Lutetia”)—for AU$232 (currently US$162.89/ EUR159/GBP133.13 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 magnificently bold and very beautiful woodcut title-page, 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