Hendrik Goltzius’ engraving, “The Dead Christ and the Four Evangelists”, 1583, after Anthonie Blocklandt van Montfoort

Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617)

“The Dead Christ and the Four Evangelists” (TIB title) (aka “Le Corps mort de Jésus Christ étendu sur son tombeau, à l’entour duquel son ranges les quatres évangelistes” [Bartsch title]), 1583, engraving after the design by Anthonie Blocklandt van Montfoort (aka Anthonie van Blocklandt van Montfoort) (1533/4–1583). This is a lifetime/first state impression published in Haarlem by Hendrik Goltzius before the addition of the publisher’s details for Visscher (“IC-Visscher excudebat”) in the second state.

Engraving on laid paper trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline and writing edge, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 38.8 x 48.4 cm; (sheet) 35 x 44.5 cm; (outer image borderline) 34.1 x 44.2 cm.

Lettered in plate: (within the image borderline on tablets held by the evangelists from left) (Mark) “Marcus. Cap. 15.16”; (Mathew) “Mathu^us. Cap. 19.20”; (John) “Iohaⁿnis. Cap. 27. 28.”; (Luke) “Lucas. Cap. 23.23”; (within the image borderline at lower centre) “ABloclandt inuentor./ Henricus Goltzius Sculp,, & Excudebat Impressum Harlemi./ Ao.1583.”; (below the image borderline in four columns of four lines in Latin, French, German and Dutch) “Mortuus humana Christus […] nieu leven sal ons dan misten.”

State i (of ii) before the addition of details for Visscher as the publisher in the second state.

TIB 0301.265 (Walter L Strauss [ed.] 1982, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists: Hendrik Goltzius”, vol. 3 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, pp. 297–98, cat. no. [0301].265 SI); Holstein Dutch 295–1(2).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “Christ lies in a sarcophagus, surrounded by Mary Magdalene and the evangelists with their symbols (Matthew with an angel, John with an eagle, Luke with an ox and Mark with a lion). In the foreground the crown of thorns and the nails. In the background the Resurrection can be seen: Christ with a banner in hand hovering over his tomb near Calvary.” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.450584)

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1852-1211-59.

Condition: a well-printed lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed slightly unevenly around the outer image borderline with a narrow margin and laid onto archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wider margins. The sheet has minor staining (see the lower left corner) and the upper right and lower right corners have been replenished and there are other minor restorations for chips, tears and holes.

I am selling this large, first state/lifetime, engraving by the almost legendary artist, Hendrik Goltzius, for the total cost of AU$917 (currently US$638.33/EUR594.86/GBP525.10 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 superb engraving by one of the most important and famous of the old master printmakers, 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