Abraham Blooteling, "Plate 81: Flayed Human Foot, Leg,” 1685, after Gerard de Lairesse

Abraham Blooteling (also known as Abraham Bloteling, Abraham Blotelingh, and Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) and Pieter Stevens van Gunst (aka Pieter van Gunst) (1658/59–c.1731)

"Plate 81: Flayed Human Foot, Leg" — Extensor Muscles and Tendons of the Lower Limb, 1685

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on laid paper with full margins as issued. This engraving is based on a drawing from the École de Médecine, Paris, by Gerard de Lairesse (1640/41–1711), and is Plate 81 (Tab. 81) in Govard Bidloo’s (1649–1713) landmark anatomical atlas, “Anatomia humani corporis / Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams," first published in 1685 in Amsterdam by the widow of Johan van Someren (1622–1676).

Note: This impression features the 3 cm chain-lines characteristic of the first edition of 1685. The later edition of 1734, published by Jacob van Poolsum (1701–1762) in Utrecht, has 2.5 cm chain-lines. The watermark, reading “BRUN/ EN/ DANGOU,” possibly indicates the Brun family as the paper manufacturer— a prominent name in French papermaking. The last line may refer to its manufacture in d'Angoumois, aligning with the 1688 and 1739 decrees requiring papermakers to include their name and province of origin in the watermark. This three-line watermark helps date this impression to between 1688 and 1739.

The impression is strong and well-printed, with only minor signs of wear to the plate. The sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or stains

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 53.5 x 36.5 cm
• Platemark: 50 x 30.6 cm

Lettered on Plate:

• Upper-right corner: “T.81.”
• Within the image, key points are lettered from “A” to “Q”. (“A”—knee; “B”—fibula; “C”—portions of tibia; “D”—calf; “E”—tibialis anterior muscle; etc.)

References:

• Throwbridge Gallery offers a detailed description of this print and an insightful account of the history and controversies surrounding its publication: https://trowbridgegallery.com.au/shop/medical/william-cowper/william-cowper-t81/
• Archive.org offers an online view of this print and its context within the publication: https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008642049/page/n273/mode/2up
• Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bidloo_Ontleding_1690_81.jpg

Price & Shipping:

AU$388 (approximately US$275.76 / €235.97 / £205.97), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in acquiring this large and renowned masterwork of anatomical engraving—an exceptional display of craftsmanship and ingenuity in depicting muscles and tendons—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

Abraham Blooteling & Pieter Stevens van Gunst, “Plate 86: Dissected Foot with Muscles Revealed”, 1685

Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Bloteling; Abraham Blotelingh; Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) and Pieter Stevens van Gunst (aka Pieter van Gunst) (1658/59–c.1731)

Plate 86: Dissected Foot with Muscles Revealed”, 1685, after a drawing in the Ecole de Médicine, Paris, by Gerard de Lairesse (1640/41–1711), engraved illustration to Govard Bidloo’s (1649–1713) famous anatomical atlas, “Anatomia humani corporis/ Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams", first published by the widow of Johan van Someren (1622–1676) (de Weduwe van Joannes van Someren [fl. after 1679]) in 1685 in Amsterdam.

Engraving on laid paper with Strasburg Lily watermark of 1625 (see WA Churchill no. 401, p. 83) and full margins as published.

Note that this impression has the 3cm chainlines of the first edition of 1685, whereas the later edition of 1734, published by Jacob van Poolsum (1701–1762) in Utrecht has 2.5cm chainlines.

Size: (sheet) 51.4 x 33.1cm; (plate) 47.4 x 30cm.

Lettered in plate: (upper-right corner) “T. 86.”; index lettered “A” to “F” following “Fig. 1” to “Fig. 3”.

Archive.org offers a view of this print in its context in the publication: https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008642049/page/n287/mode/2up.

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression. The sheet has dot stains at the upper right and a restored (closed) tear in the margin at lower right, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition for its age and large size with no holes, folds, abrasions, losses, significant stains or handling marks.

I am selling this large and famous masterpiece of anatomical engraving that is not only superbly executed, but also displays exceptional ingenuity in displaying the muscles and tendons, for AU$485 (currently US$309.88/ EUR293.78/ GBP243.37 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$485) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this extraordinary and technically magnificent print, 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

(attrib.) Abraham Blooteling’s etching, “The Family”, 1655–1690, after Adriaen van Ostade

(attrib.) Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Bloteling; Abraham Blotelingh; Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) (see the Rijksmuseum’s description of this print in the later numbered state: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.82212)

“The Family” (aka “Boerengezin in Interieur”; “Farming Family in Interior”), 1655–1690 (Rijksmuseum attrib.), plate 3 from the series of eight prints, “Caprice”, after scenes by Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685). Proof before numbering and publication in Amsterdam by Abraham Blootelling, etched in the reverse direction to Adriaen van Ostade’s composition (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-1529).

Etching on fine laid paper, trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13.5 x 11.1 cm; (plate) 13.3 x 10.8 cm; (image borderline) 12.9 x 10.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate at lower left “1646” with indistinct additional marks at lower right.

Ref. Hollstein 46 (K.G. Boon & J. Verbeek 1964, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Van Ostade–De Passe”, vol. 15, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger en Co., p. 59, cat. no. 46).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: “[trans.] Simple living area with farmer's family during daily activities. The farmer's wife takes care of her youngest child while a boy eats from a bowl at the table and the farmer cuts a slice of bread. Another boy is playing with a dog. The room is full of household objects and furniture” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.82212).

Lifetime impression before numbering.

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless impression in an excellent condition, trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and laid in a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this superb, near faultless, lifetime impression before the plate was later numbered for publication, for AU$307 (currently US$208.22/EUR189.13/GBP164.09 at the time of 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.

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching by Blooteling—a contemporary of Van Ostade—in the reverse direction after Van Ostade’s design, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Cornelis van Dalen II’s engraving, “Joannes Bocatius”, c.1655, after Titian

Cornelis van Dalen II (1638–1664)

“Joannes Bocatius”—aka Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), the famous Florentine poet and author of “The Decameron” (see BM’s biographical details); alternatively the portrait may show the Napolitan poet, Jacopo Sannazaro (1458–1530)—c.1655, after Titian’s (aka Tiziano Vecellio) (1489/90–1576) painting in the Royal Collection at Hampton Court (inv. no. 68), from the series of 34 plates commissioned in 1655, “Variarum imaginum a celeberrimis artificibus pictarum Caelaturae” (Engravings of various images painted by famous artists) (aka “Cabinet Reynst”), reproducing the collection of the brothers, Gerard and Jan Reynst and published in England by Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Blootelingh: Abraham Blotelingh) (1640–1690).

Engraving on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and text lines, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 37.8 x 28.6 cm; (image borderline) 35.1 x 28.1 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (centre) “JOANNES BOCATIUS/ Tizian Pinxit […] C [V] DalenJunior Sculp. […] A. Blooteling Excudit.”

State iii (of iii) with the addition of lettering.

Hollstein 110 (F.W.H. Hollstein 1951, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Cornelisz. – Dou”, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 107, cat. no. 110-3).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (superb!) impression trimmed with narrow margins around the image borderline and lines of text. Beyond minor restorations along the upper edge, the sheet is in a very good condition for its size and considerable age with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains and is laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this large and spectacularly fine engraving, for AU$328 (currently US$219.24/EUR198.36/GBP174.62 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 magnificent portrait (after Titian) of (arguably) Giovanni Boccaccio, the author of one of the classic (if rather licentious) Italian stories, “The Decameron” (c.1348–53)—described by Wikipedia as “100 tales told by a group of seven young women and three young men …[as they sheltered] in a secluded villa just outside Florence in order to escape the Black Death, which was afflicting the city” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decameron)—, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Abraham Blooteling & Pieter Stevens van Gunst's engraving, “Plate 70: Dissected Hand and Forearm Showing the Tendons”, 1685

Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Bloteling; Abraham Blotelingh; Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) and Pieter Stevens van Gunst (aka Pieter van Gunst) (1658/59–c1731)

“Plate 70: Dissected Hand and Forearm Showing the Tendons”, 1685, after a drawing in the Ecole de Médicine, Paris, by Gerard de Lairesse (1640/41–1711), engraved illustration to Govard Bidloo’s (1649–1713) famous anatomical atlas, “Anatomia humani corporis/ Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams", first published by the widow of Johan van Someren (1622–1676) (de Weduwe van Joannes van Someren [fl. after 1679]) in 1685 in Amsterdam.

Note that this impression has the 3 cm chainlines of the first edition of 1685, whereas the later edition of 1734, published by Jacob van Poolsum (1701–1762) in Utrecht has 2.5 cm chainlines.

Archive.org offer a view of this print in its context in the publication: https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008642049/page/n239/mode/2up.

The accompanying Latin text on the facing page to this print offers the following explanation of the lettered index: (transl. and my apologies for any errors) “Seventieth Table: Besides those already recited A. of the index finger, B. of the ear, C. of the thumb, and of the fingers, there are those produced from the extremity of the apophysis of the humerus D. of four or three of the fingers, E. both second and third, by means of the tendinous ligaments of the envelope, F. are attached to the internode. With these tendons, as well as Perforates and Perforants, the capsules or sheaths of the Membranaceous-Cartilage are attached to the External Radius. These same muscles, separated from each other, are shown […]”

For a marvellous description of the history behind the Bidloo’s anatomical atlas relating to another plate from the publication, see: https://trowbridgegallery.com.au/product/william-cowper-t81/.

Engraving on laid paper (3 cm chainlines) with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 50.6 x 35.4 cm; (plate) 47.5 x 33.1 cm.

Lettered in plate: (upper-right corner) “T. 70.”; (index lettered) “A” to “F”.

Condition: strong and well-printed impression in an excellent condition for its age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, significant stains or handling marks.

I am selling this large and famous masterpiece of anatomical engraving that is not only superbly executed, but also displays exceptional ingenuity in displaying an anterior view of the forearm muscles and tendons attached to the wrist, for AU$485 (currently US$333.61/EUR313.29/GBP275.87 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 extraordinary and technically magnificent print, 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