Jan Luyken’s etching, “The Ultimate Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and the Temple”, 1708

Jan Luyken (aka Johannes Luyken; Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)

“The Ultimate Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and the Temple” (aka “De Uyterste verdelging van de Stad Jerusalem en den Tempel” [title inscribed in plate]; “Vernietiging van Jeruzalem door het Babylonische leger” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1708, from a series of sixty-two Old and New Testament biblical prints first published in 1708 in Amsterdam by Pieter Mortier (1661–1711) in “Icones Biblicae Veteris et Novi Testamenti”. This impression is from the 1729 edition published in Amsterdam by Matten Schagen (fl.1729–) on page 68g (as inscribed in plate at upper left).

Etching on laid paper with full margins and flattened centrefold.

Size: (sheet) 47.5 x 56.5 cm; (plate) 33.5 x 43 cm; (image borderline) 32 x 42 cm.

Lettered in plate above the image borderline: (left) “Pag. 68g.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. Luyken inv.”; (centre) “De Uyterste verdelging van de Stad Jerusalem en den Tempel.”; (right) “M. Schagen Excudit.”

State ii (of ii) with the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier to Matten Schagen. Lifetime/early impression (based on the crisp quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

Van Eeghen 3717 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 663, cat. no. 3717).

This publication is available for online viewing or free download at archive.org (note that the page numbering is challenging and the URL below may be helpful): https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/663/mode/1up  (see cat. no. 3717).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “After the siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonian army returns home with the looted treasures of the city. In the background Jerusalem in the flames” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.337027).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed, near faultless impression with generously wide margins, flattened centre-fold of publication and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond minor age-toning to the edges, the sheet in an excellent condition with no stains or foxing.

I am selling this large, museum-quality etching in an exceptionally fine state of preservation for AU$322 (currently US$221.41/EUR220.55/GBP187.27 at the time of 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 spectacular etching showing on an epic scale the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonian army, 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