Hubert Goltzius, “Emperor Didius Julianus”, 1559

Hubert Goltzius (1526–1583) possibly in collaboration with Joos Gietleughen (also known as Jocodus de Curia and Regnirer Curia) (active 1555–1559)

Portrait of Emperor Didius Julianus” (also known as “Imperator Caesar Marcus Didius Severus Julianus Augustus” or “Imp Caes M Did Se Ver Ivlian Avg” as lettered in the medallion border), 1559

Didius Julianus was the nineteenth Emperor of Rome, famously purchasing his Imperial title in an auction held by the Praetorian Guard after they assassinated his predecessor, Pertinax. His reign was one of the shortest in Roman history, lasting only sixty-six days in 193 AD. He was eventually executed by his successor, Septimius Severus.

Technical Details & Condition:

Chiaroscuro woodcut printed in ochre with etching printed in black on laid paper with letterpress French text above and below the image, and verso.

This impression is from the rare 1559 first French edition of “Les Images Presque de Tous les Empereurs” (Images of Almost All the Emperors), printed in Antwerp by Gilles Coppens van Diest (also known as Aegidius Coppens van Diest) (1496–1572).

This is a definitive 16th-century impression, verified by the binder’s signature mark “G 4” at the lower right. This mark is specific to the 1559 French gathering and the presence of Middle French text on the reverse distinguishes this original woodcut from the later 17th-century recut. See this publication and the print in its context: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b105511132/f83.item.

Note that Christoffel Jegher (1596–1652/3) later recut the same design as a plate to Hubert Goltzius' “Icones Imperatorum Romanorum”, printed and published in Antwerp in 1645 by Balthasar Moretus II (aka Balthasar Moerentorf II) (1615–1674); see the description of this recut print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1982-U-2939.

The impression is strong with characteristic 16th-century colour unevenness. Note a restored tear in the right margin and two small wormholes on the neck of the portrait. There are minor surface marks consistent with age. The sheet has been professionally laid on tissue-thin washi paper (Special Wild Goose Skin Cicada Wing Rice Paper) for archival support.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 27.4 x 22.2 cm
• Circular image borderline diameter: 18 cm

Lettering:

• Upper French text: “ET FVSSE-IE DE L'VN DES PIEDZ AV SEPVL= / CHRE, ENCORE VOVDROY-IE APRENDRE.” (Translation: And though I had one foot in the grave, I would still wish to learn.)
• Medallion inscription: “IMP · CAES · M · DID · SE VER · IVLIAN · AVG ·” (Imperator Caesar Marcus Didius Severus Julianus Augustus)
• Lower French text: “Il acheta fa mort auec l'Empire, lequel il ne gouuerna que sept moys.” (Translation: He bought his death with the Empire, which he only governed for seven months. Note: The 1559 text contains a common historical error; he actually reigned for 66 days.)
• Binder’s signature mark at lower right: “G 4”

Price & Shipping:

AU$298 (approximately US$212.26 / €181.67 / £157.65), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

I am selling this graphically arresting chiaroscuro woodcut created at the time when Michelangelo was working on his final marble sculpture, “The Rondanini Pieta” (1552–1564), 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 

Jocodus de Curia & Hubert Goltzius, “Portrait of Emperor Pertinax”, 1557

Jocodus de Curia (aka Joos Gietleughen; Regnirer Curia) (fl.1555–1559)—active in Antwerp and Cologne as a chiaroscuro woodcut printmaker and publisher with Hubert Goltzius (1526–1583) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG24206)

“Portrait of Emperor Pertinax”— Emperor of Rome for 87 days in 193 AD (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG140717), 1557, plate XX (20) published on page 20 to the first book of Hubert Goltzius’ “Les Images presque de tous les Empereurs” (full title in translation: “The Images of almost all the Emperors from C. Iulius Caesar to Charles V and Fernidanus his brother, depicted from life, taken from ancient medals: not as they have been made known before, but in truth and with great care and diligence. Together also their lives and their deeds, both good and bad, painted with the historical brush: [print] / dedicated to the very powerful and very illustrious Philip, King of Spain, Naples, etc. by Hubert Gholtzius of Virztbourg, painter in Antwerp” (see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b105511132/f81.item).

Although I may be misinformed, Hubert Goltzius etched the black plate in this print and Jocodus de Curia executed the woodcut printed in ochre. Note that Christoffel Jegher (1596–1652/3) later printed the same composition from two woodcut blocks in black and ochre in 1645 as an illustration to page 41 of Hubert Goltzius' “Icones Imperatorum Romanorum”, published in Antwerp by Balthasar Moretus II (aka Balthasar Moerentorf II) (1615–1674) in 1645  (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1982-U-2940; https://archive.org/details/iconesimperatorugolt/page/40/mode/2up).

Woodcut printed in ochre and etching printed in black on laid paper with letterpress French text verso.

Size: (sheet) 29.9 x 22.6cm; (image borderline dia.) 18.1cm.

Lettered in plate following the round image borderline: “DIVVS. PERT. PIVS. PATER.”

Letterpress: (above the image) “MIEVX VAVT AVOIR VN POVRE PEVEPLE/ QVE DE PARVENIR A RICHESSES EN/ GRAND PERIL ET DESHONNEVR.” (It is better to have good people than to achieve riches in great danger and dishonour); (below the image) “Estant presque en l'aage de septante ans, apres auoir gouuerné/ fix moys, il fut miserablement mis à mort./ G” (Being almost seventy years old, after having ruled for a fixed month, he was miserably put to death).

Condition: a strong but slightly unevenly printed impression. There is a tear to the right edge, two wormholes on the neck of the portrayed head and minor toning to the sheet appropriate to its considerable age, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition with no significant stains.

I am selling this graphically arresting chiaroscuro woodcut created at the time when Michelangelo was working on his final marble sculpture, “The Rondanini Pieta” (1552–64), for the total cost of AU$298 (approximately US$193.47, EUR 164.99 or GBP 143.02). This price includes worldwide express postage and handling. Please note that any applicable import duties or taxes imposed by the destination country are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellously strong colour woodcut, 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