Gijsbert van Veen, “In Flagrante Delicto”, c.1607/12

Gijsbert van Veen (aka Gysbrecht van Veen; Gijsbert Vaenius; Gisbert Venius) (1558–1628), possibly designed in collaboration with his brother, Otto van Veen’s (aka Otho Venius; Octavio van Veen; Otho Vaenius) (1556–1629)—the teacher of Rubens

“In Flagrante Delicto” (“In Blazing Offence”, with the colloquial meaning: “caught red-handed in the act of sexual activity”) (aka “Animi Servitus” [Servant of the Soul]), c1607/12, published in Antwerp by Prostant apud Philippum Lisaert in 1612, as an illustration to page 29 in Otto van Veen’s “Quinti Horatii Flacci Emblemata, Imaginibus in Æs Incisis, Notisque, Illustrata” (The emblems of Quintus Horatius Flaccus, illustrated with images engraved on them, and noted) with accompanying lines from Horace’s (aka Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) “Odes”, Book III.

Engraving on fine laid paper with Latin letterpress text verso, trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 17.9 x 14.7 cm.

The following accompanying Latin verses by Horace on the facing page for this illustration may help to give the flavour of the writing (apologies for errors in translation): “Quid refert, uri virgis ferroque necari?” (What does it matter, being burned alive, or killed by a sword?)/ Auctoratus eas, an turpi clausus in arca,” (You are a slave, or shut up in a vile chest,)/ “Quo te demisit peccati conscia herilis,” (Where the master's sin-conscious servant has lowered you,)/ “Contractum genibus tangas caput?” (To touch your head with your knees [in the sense of a humiliating posture]) (p. 28).

Archive.org offers an online view of this print in its context in the publication: https://archive.org/details/quintihoratiifla00veen/page/28/mode/2up.

See also the images in the publication offered by Emblematica Online: http://emblematica.library.illinois.edu/detail/book/618513612/emblems.

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression, trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in an excellent (near pristine) condition with no tears or significant stains.

This allegorical print, designed to ponder the agonizing choice between cruel punishment and degrading humiliation, is available for AU$237 (approx. US$155.99, EUR 133.42, or GBP 115.63). Express shipping is included worldwide. Import duties are the buyer's responsibility.

If you wish to acquire this dramatic depiction of a clandestine affair, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will send you a PayPal invoice for your convenience. 

This print has been sold