(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert, “The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard”, c. 1596, after Jan van der Straet

(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert (circa 1560–1618)

“The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard” (aka “Keizer Commodus doodt een luipaard met een pijl” [Emperor Commodus kills a leopard with an arrow]), circa 1596

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on fine laid paper. This print is plate 14 from the series of 104 engravings titled “Hunting Parties” (also known as “Venationes Ferarum, Bird, and Fish”). The design is after Jan van der Straet (also known as Joannes Stradanus and Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), and the engraving was published in Antwerp by Philips Galle (1537–1612).

This impression is from the second state (of three), prior to being reworked and published by Philips Galle’s grandson, Joannes Galle (also known as Ioan Galle and Jan Galle) (1600–1676), who modified the figures in the background. A third state impression of this print, which I previously listed, can be viewed at: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2021/07/attrib-adriaen-collaerts-engraving.html.

The impression is strong and well-printed—nearly faultless. The sheet is in near-pristine condition for its age, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or signs of handling.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 22.3 x 30.6 cm
• Platemark: 20.3 x 27 cm
• Image borderline: 18.3 x 26.6 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Within the image borderline on lower edge: (left of centre) “Ioan. Stradanus inuent.”; (right of centre) “Phls Galle excud.”
• Below the image borderline: (left) “14”; (two lines of two columns at centre) “Pensilis è cauea Tigris rabiosa theatre / Erumpit vinclis, hominiq[ue] occurrit inermi, // Quem ne dilaceret fera bellua, Commodus arcu / Impedit, atq[ue] feræ iacit in præcordia telum.”

References:

• New Hollstein 513.II (Marjolein Leesberg [comp.], “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Johannes Stradanus”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Sound & Vision, p.193, cat. no. 513)
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1856-0712-440
• Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.97378
• Archive.org offers an online view of the publication, “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium”, in which this engraving appears: https://archive.org/details/printboeck00stra/page/n89/mode/2up

Price & Shipping:

AU$307 (approximately US$216.48 / €185.15 / £161.30), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this fascinating glimpse into Roman life during the reign of Emperor Commodus—an era marked by his megalomania, statues portraying him as Hercules, and the renaming of Rome to “Colonia Commodiana”—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will be happy to provide a PayPal invoice to facilitate a smooth and secure purchase.

This print has been sold

(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert’s engraving, “The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard”, c1596, after Jan van der Straet

(Attrib.) Adriaen Collaert (c1560-1618)

“The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard” (aka “Keizer Commodus doodt een luipaard met een pijl” [Emperor Commodus kills a leopard with an arrow]), c1596, plate 14 from the series of 104 engravings, “Hunting Parties” (aka “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium” (transl. “With wild beasts, birds, fish”), after Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), initially published in Antwerp by Philips Galle (1537–1612) and later by Philips' grandson, Joannes Galle (aka Ioan Galle and Jan Galle) (1600–1676).

Archive.org offers an online view the publication, “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium”, before the numbering of this engraving: https://archive.org/details/printboeck00stra/page/n89/mode/2up.

Note: the first edition of “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium” published by Galle comprised 43 unnumbered plates all engraved by Galle with a dedication page to Cosimo de Medici. After this edition the series was expanded to 104 plates engraved by A. Collaert, J. Collaert, C. Galle I and C. de Mallery with a dedication page to the jurist Henricus van Osthoorn en Sonnevelt (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1957-0413-37 and A. Baroni and M. Sellink, “Stradanus 1523-1605: Court artist of the Medici”, exh. cat. Groeningemuseum Brugge 2008–09, Turnhout, 2012, pp. 245–58, cat. nos. 32–49).

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

Size: (sheet) 20.3 x 27.4 cm; (image borderline) 20 x 27.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline along lower edge: (centre) “Ioan Stradanus inuent.”; (right of centre) “Ioan Galle excud.”

Numbered and lettered in plate in two columns of two lines below the image borderline: (left) “14.”; (centre) “Pensilis è cauea Tigris rabiosa theatri/ Erumpit vinclis, hominiq[ue] occurrit inermi,// Quem ne dilaceret fera bellua, Commodus arcu/ Impedit, atq[ue] feræ iacit in præcordia telum.”

State: iii (of iii)  with the address of Joannes (Ioan) Galle 

New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 513.II (Marjolein Leesberg [comp.] 2008, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Johannes Stradanus”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Sound and Vision Rijksmuseum, p.193; p.224 [fig.], cat. no. 513); Baroni Vannucci 693.14 (Alessandra Baroni Vannucci 1997, “Jan van der Straet, detto Giovanni Stradano, flandrus pictor et inventor”, Milan, Jandi Sapi Editori).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 14, The Emperor Commodus Killing a Leopard; at centre, a leopard leaps from its cage towards a male figure in a stadium; at the upper left, the Emperor Commodus fires an arrow at the leopard from the balcony; to left and right, spectators look on” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1957-0413-50).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.97378.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with narrow margins around the borderline and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. Beyond small chips to the corners, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

I am selling this exceptionally rare, engraving from the late 1500s for the total cost of AU$307 (currently US$228.39/EUR192.94/GBP165.78 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 glimpse into Roman life at the time when Emperor Commodus’ megalomania had led to statues being erected portraying him as Hercules and—perhaps more worrying—had Rome renamed, "Colonia Commodiana”, before he met his demise with the poisoning hand of his favourite concubine, Marcia, and the strangling hands of a young athlete, 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 

Jan Collaert II’s engraving, “Entombment of Christ”, c1585, after Jan van der Straet

Jan Collaert II (aka Hans Collaert; Jan Baptist I Collaert) (c1561–c1620)

“Entombment of Christ”, c1585 (1584–1587), plate 18 from the series, “Passio, mors et resurrectio dn. Nostri Iesu Christi” (The passion, death and resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ) after the design by Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), initially published by Philips Galle (aka Philippus Gallaeus; Philippe Galle) (1537–1612) and later (as with this impression) by Joannes Galle (aka Johannes Galle; Ioannes Galle; Johann Galle; Jan Galle; Ioan Galle; Joan Galle) (1600-1676) in Antwerp.

Engraving on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline with loss of the ornamental frame and the upper and lower writing edges, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17.6 x 13.1 cm; (image borderline) 16 x 12.8 cm.

Lettered on the plate in four lines of Latin below the image borderline: (centre) “Acceperunt ergo corpus Iesu et ligaverunt illud linteis cum aromatibus sicut/ mos Iudæis sepelire. Erat autem in loco ubi crucifixus est hortus; et in horto/ monumentum novum, in quo nondum quisquam positus erat. ibi ergo propter Paras-/ ceven Iudæorum, quia iuxta erat monumentum, posuerunt Iesum. Ioann. 19. 18/ Ioan Galle excudit.” (They took the body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices for burial. And it was the place where he was crucified there was a garden in the; and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. There, therefore, because of the day of the preparation of the Jews, because the tomb was near, they laid Jesus there.)

New Hollstein 107; Baroni Vannucci 695.18.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 18, The Entombment: Christ is lowered into the tomb on a shroud by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea; the holy women and St John gather around; the cloak of one the women hangs over into the inscription cartouche; outside the chamber, in the far right, the crucifix is visible; the whole set within an ornamental frame Engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Nn-7-4-47).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline (but with loss of the upper and lower writing edges and ornamental frame). Beyond minor discolouring in the lower text area, the sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this superb example of the period style of Mannerism showing use of raking light, dramatic gestures and use of the lower right woman’s cloak projecting beyond the image borderline—no doubt to engage viewers at a subliminal level so that they may feel a part of the scene—for the total cost of AU$242 (currently US$187.10/EUR153.59/GBP132.20 at the time of posting this print) 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 very beautiful engraving composed with an ingenious use of the sepulchre’s radiating roof lines and strong raking light to connect the distant cross with the image of Christ being lowered into his tomb, 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

 

Jan Collaert II’s engraving, “Storks Fighting Snakes,” c1596, after Jan van der Straet

(attrib.) Jan Collaert II (aka Hans Collaert; Jan Baptist I Collaert) (c1561–c1620)

“Storks Fighting Snakes” (aka “Cranes Fighting Snakes on Crete”), 1596, plate 63 from the series of 105 plates, “Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium” (Hunts of wild animals, birds and fish), after a drawing by Jan van der Straet (aka Joannes Stradanus; Ioannes Stradanus) (1523–1605), initially published by Philips Galle (aka Philippe Galle; Philippus Gallaeus) (1537–1612) in 1596 in Antwerp, and later by Joannes Galle (aka Johannes Galle; Jan Galle) (1600–1676) in 1634, also in Antwerp. This impression is from a later (19th century?) chine collé edition.

Engraving on chine collé (China) on laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 26 x 34.9 cm; (plate) 20.2 x 27.5 cm; (image borderline) 18.5 x 27 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “Ioan Galle/ excud./ I. Stradan.inu.”

Numbered and lettered on plate below the image borderline: (Ieft) “63.”; (two columns of two lines at centre) “Nutrit Squamosos Appulia vasta Colubros:/ Istorum inuadunt Grus atque Ciconia pullos:// Hinc rostro et morsu bellum committitur acre./ Ludicra res multis hæ est Spectata spectata colonis. 4”.

State iii with the addition of the later publisher’s name, Joannes Galle (Philips Galle’s grandson).

New Hollstein 508.III (Stradanus) (Manfred Sellink [ed.] 2001, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Philips Galle”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision); New Hollstein 1528 (Collaert).

The British Museum offers the following description of this plate:

“Plate numbered 63, Storks Fighting Snakes; in the right foreground, two huntsmen, armed with a spear and daggers, watch from behind a tree as storks attack snakes to the left, one flying off with a snake; beyond, in the left mid ground, three men watch from a bridge; beyond them a town is visible in the distance; behind the huntsmen in the foreground, to the right, storks are nesting in chimneys”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1957-0413-73).

The Bowdoin College Museum of Art which holds Jan van der Straet’s original drawing (gift of Susan Dwight Bliss) offers the following insights about the composition of this print:

“Two hunters shielded by a tree witness a fierce battle of storks against snakes. Royal menageries in sixteenth-century Europe featured bloody spectacles of interspecies fights to the death between exotic beasts, such as tigers and elephants. The bird and snake combat recorded in Book 10 of Pliny’s Natural History is described as taking place in Thessaly, Greece, where laws protected storks because of their snake-slaying potency. The engraving after this drawing has a four-line Latin verse below the image. It adds cranes to Pliny’s description and changes the locale: ‘Vast Appulia nourishes the scaly snakes. The crane and the stork attack their offspring. Here they wage a bitter war with beak and bite. This sportive event is watched by many farmers.’”

(https://artmuseum.bowdoin.edu/objects-1/info/4231).

Condition: well-printed, strong impression with full margins as published. The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, folds, holes, losses, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this visually arresting engraving showing storks making meals of snakes watched by two wide-eyed men, for a total cost of AU$286 (currently US$207.82/EUR174.01/GBP156.75 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 near faultless early engraving exemplifying the 16th century fascination for grim interspecies battles to the death, 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