Nicolò Nelli, “Saint Mark”, c. 1570–75, after Aldegrever and Pencz

Nicolò Nelli (active 1552–1579)

“Saint Mark”, circa 1570–1575 (Post-Tridentine period)

Dating Note:

The textual layout and vernacular liturgical structure of this leaf align perfectly with the standardised scriptural reforms established after 1570. This identification indicates that the leaf was produced during Nelli’s mature Venetian workshop period. Interestingly, the elegant Roman lapidary display font used for the header text on the verso was the industry standard in leading publishing workshops of Venice during the 1570s.

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on fine handmade Renaissance laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the platemark with letterpress Italian text verso. The engraving was created after the 1539 print by Heinrich Aldegrever (1502–1561), from the series “The Four Evangelists”—see a copy of Aldegrever’s print in the MET collection: Object Number 60.650.2 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/428374). Aldegrever’s work, in turn, was based on a design by Georg Pencz (circa 1500–1550). 

This leaf was published in Venice by Nicolò Nelli to illustrate a post-Tridentine Epistole e Vangeli (Epistles and Gospels in the vernacular), used for Sunday homilies. The verso heading indicates a liturgical reading: “DOMENICA SECONDA DELL' AVVENTO / EPISTOLA DI SAN PAOLO APOSTOLO A' ROMANI. Cap. 15”—the Second Sunday of Advent, Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans, Chapter 15.

This is a strong, crisp lifetime impression, showing no signs of wear to the printing plate. The sheet exhibits minor, uniform age-toning appropriate for a 16th-century leaf but remains in remarkable condition—completely free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, foxing, or significant staining.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 17.5 x 13 cm
• Platemark: 16.8 x 12.4 cm

In-Plate lettering:

• Lower left corner: “N N for.” (Nicolò Nelli formis)

Price & Shipping:

AU$370 (approximately US$265.94 / €228.10 / £195.68, subject to daily exchange rates). Price includes worldwide express shipping. Please note that destination import duties and local taxes remain the sole responsibility of the buyer.

If you’re interested in acquiring this exceptionally rare engraving depicting Saint Mark—the Evangelist writing his Gospel while seated on a cloud and accompanied by his lion attribute—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’ll gladly provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless transaction.

This print has been sold

Heinrich Aldegrever, “Ornament with Sphinxes and Mask”, 1552

Heinrich Aldegrever (c1501/2–c1555/61)

“Ornament with Sphinxes and Mask” (TIB title) (aka “Autre montant d’ornemens, où l’on voit au bas deux Sphinx”; “Vlakdecoratie met bladranken en grotesken” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1552.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15 x 5.5 cm; (plate) 14.7 x 5.2 cm.

Inscribed in plate with Aldegrever's monogram and date at lower centre on tablet.

TIB 16(8).286(448) (Robert A Koch [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 16, New York, Abaris Books, p. 258, cat. no. 286 [448]); New Hollstein (German) 286 (Aldegrever) (Ursula Mielke [comp.] 1998, “The New Hollstein: German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400–1700: Heinrich Aldegrever”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 232, cat. no. 286).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1853-0709-240; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.322655.

Condition: a well-printed silvery impression trimmed close to the platemark with thread margins and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this original, very beautiful and rare engraving from the Renaissance era by one of the major old masters strongly influenced by Albrecht Dürer—note Aldegrever’s adaptation of Dürer’s monogram for his own—for AU$586 (currently US$388.63/EUR353.73/GBP301.73 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$586) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this small and magnificently executed masterpiece of engraving, 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

Heinrich Aldegrever’s engraving, “Ornament with Vase and Mask”, 1552

Heinrich Aldegrever (c1501/2–c1555/61)

“Ornament with Vase and Mask” (TIB title) (aka “Autre Montant d'Ornement” [Bartsch title]; “Vlakdecoratie met Bladranken en Grotesken” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1552.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15 x 5.5 cm; (plate) 14.7 x 5.2 cm.

Inscribed in plate with Aldegrever's monogram and dated at upper centre on tablet.

TIB 16(8).285(448) (Robert A Koch [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 16, New York, Abaris Books, p. 257, cat. no. 285 [448]); Bartsch VIII.448.285; New Hollstein (German) 285 (Aldegrever) (Ursula Mielke [comp.] 1998, “The New Hollstein: German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400–1700: Heinrich Aldegrever”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, p. 231, cat. no. 285).

The British Museum and the Rijksmuseum offer descriptions of this print: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1853-0312-264; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.322654.

Condition: a well-printed silvery impression trimmed close to the platemark with thread margins and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this original, very beautiful and rare engraving from the Renaissance era by one of the major old masters strongly influenced by Albrecht Dürer—note Aldegrever’s adaptation of Albrecht Dürer’s monogram for his own—for AU$586 (currently US$388.96/EUR361.96/GBP318.53 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 small and magnificently executed masterpiece of engraving, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Heinrich Aldegrever's engraving, “St. Mark”, 1539

Heinrich Aldegrever (1501/2–1555/61)

“St. Mark” (aka “S. Marc”; “Saint Marc l’Evangéliste”), 1539, plate 2 from the series of four engravings, “The Four Evangelists” (TIB 16.57–60) (aka “Vier Evangelisten”), after Georg Pencz (c.1500–50).

Engraving trimmed along the image borderline on fine laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 12 x 7.6 cm

Signed and dated on plate with Aldegrever's monogram at upper right and with Pencz's monogram on a tablet at lower right.

TIB 16(8).58 (383) (Robert A Koch [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch”, vol. 16, New York, Abaris Books, p. 166, cat. no. 58 [383]); Bartsch VIII.383.58; New Hollstein (German) 58 (Aldegrever) (Ursula Mielke 1998, The New Hollstein : German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400–1700: Heinrich Aldegrever”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision Interactive, p. 71, cat. no. 58).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“St Mark; turned to right, writing in a book, the lion at right; from a series of four engravings of the evangelists seated among clouds with their attributes” (https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1508033&partId=1&searchText=St.+Mark&people=134630&page=1).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.30491.

Condition: a good but not magnificent impression (i.e. it is slightly dull) that has been trimmed around the image borderline. The sheet is in good condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).

I am selling this original engraving that is possibly a lifetime impression from the Renaissance era by one of the major old masters strongly influenced by Albrecht Dürer—note Aldegrever’s adaptation of Albrecht Dürer’s monogram for his own—for AU$686 (currently US$454.06/EUR404.65/GBP350.57 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 small masterpiece of engraving exemplifying Aldegrever’s use of what the British Museum succinctly describes in this artist’s biographical details as “slim, attenuated figures and puckered, agitated drapery“, 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