Bernard Picart, “Hell”, 1730, after Abraham van Diepenbeeck

Workshop of Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

“Hell” (also known as “Les Enfers”), 1730

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with engraving, printed from two plates on laid paper, with full margins as issued. Plate LV (55) to the series of sixty plates, “Le Temple des Muses”, published in 1733 in the first French edition by Zacharias Chatelain (active 1705–1733) in Amsterdam.

Archive.org offers an online view of this print in its context in the publication, facing page 138: https://archive.org/details/gri_33125012263162/page/n257/mode/2up.

The Curator of the British Museum notes: “Each illustration comes with an ornate border. There are at least 14 types of border, each printed once from the same plate as the illustration they first frame, then re-used as a passe-partout for the other illustrations” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1878-0914-53).

The composition of the central scene is based on an original design by Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1596–1675) and follows a reverse composition executed collaboratively by Cornelis Bloemaert (1603–1692) and Theodor Matham (1605/6–1676), with Matham completing the background. (See previous listing: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2016/11/cornelis-bloemaerts-engraving-les.html.) 

The outer frame plate is inscribed at the lower left: “B. Picart del. 1730”, indicating Bernard Picart designed and drew the decorative border. His role for the inner scene is recorded as “B. Picart direx”, showing he directed the workshop’s re-engraving of the older composition.

The impression is strong, exhibiting minimal signs of wear to the printing plate—indicative of an early impression. Aside from minor surface marks, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 46.1 x 27.8 cm
• Platemark: 35.4 x 25.4 cm
• Inner image borderline: 23.5 x 18.1 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Below the central image: (left) “B. Picart direx”; (centre) “LES ENFERS. / HELL. // Die hell. / De Helle.”
• Below the outer frame: (left) “B. Picart del. 1730.”

Price & Shipping:

AU$302 (approximately US$209.68 / €183.28 / £157.06), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this simply fabulous etching (with engraving), depicting a view of Hell, printed from two plates, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold

Cornelis Bloemaert, “Leandre and Hero”, c. 1655, after Abraham van Diepenbeeck

Cornelis Bloemaert (1603–1692) in collaboration with Theodor Matham (aka Dirk Matham) (1605/06–1676) (background landscape)

“Leandre and Hero” (aka “Leander Swims across the Hells Bridge to find Hero”; “Léandre Traverse l'Héllespont à la Nage pour Aller Trouver Héro”) c. 1655, after the design by Abraham van Diepenbeeck (aka Abraham van Diepenbeek; Abraham van Diepenbeke) (1596–1675), plate 35 in the series of 58 illustrations to Michel de Marolles’ (1600–1681) “Tableaux du Temple des Muses” (aka “Tableaux du temple des muses tirez du cabinet de feu Mr Favereau, et gravez en tailles-douces par les meilleurs maistres de son temps pour représenter les vertus et les vices, sur les plus illustres fables de l'antiquité, avec les descriptions, remarques et annotations”). This impression is possibly from a later edition.

Marcel Roethlisberger (1993), in “Abraham Bloemaert and His Sons,” notes that the publication of this series was a “complex publishing venture,” and that Pierre Mariette II (1634–1716) may have been involved (vol. 1, p. 525). The series was certainly published by Nicolas Langlois (1640–1703) in Paris in 1655, and a later, more ornate edition featuring decorative frames was published by Bernard Picart (1673–1733) in Amsterdam in 1733. Interestingly, Cornelis Bloemaert also produced an engraving of this print in the reverse direction for publication in 1676 (see https://archive.org/details/tableauxdutemple00maro/page/n367/mode/2up). Roethlisberger (1993) cautions that “there is no indication that Cornelis [Bloemaert] collaborated in the 1655 edition” (ibid.).

Etching and engraving on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 33.3 x 23.4 cm; (plate) 27.9 x 18.2 cm; (image borderline) 23.2 x 17.9 cm.

Numbered and lettered on plate below the image borderline: “LÉANDRE TRAVERSE L'HÉLLESPONT À LA NAGE POUR ALLER TROUVER HÉRO. … nu son Corps se précipita de désespoir du haut de la Tour. Mart. Spect. Ep. 15. 25. 35.”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print from the Nicolas Langlois edition: “Mythological scene with Leander swimming in a stormy sea in right foreground, accompanied by Cupid, a tower with a lantern in right background, the Winds blowing in top left; after Abraham van Diepenbeeck; from an album containing sixty engravings trimmed and pasted on sheets; illustration on page 275 from Marolles' "Temple des Muses" [Paris, Nicolas Langlois: 1655]. c. 1635–1638/ Etching and engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1983-1001-12-34).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression. Beyond a few minor dots in the margin, the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

Price & Shipping: AU$236 (approx. US$153.32 / €131.78 / £114.50), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this visually engaging etching showing the naked young man from Greek mythology, Leander, swimming to his beloved, Hero, who guides him with a light held from a distant tower, 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

Cornelis Bloemaert & Theodor Matham’s etching, “Tantale”, 1655, and Bernard Picart’s etching, “Tantalus’ Torment”, 1730

Cornelis Bloemaert (1603–1692) in collaboration with

Theodor Matham (aka Dirk Matham) (1605/06–1676) (background landscape)

Note: Based on the description offered by Archive.org, I understand that Cornelis Bloemaert also engraved the same design in reverse in another plate (c1676); see https://archive.org/details/tableauxdutemple00maro/page/n557/mode/2up.

“Tantale” (as titled on plate), c1655, after the design by Abraham van Diepenbeeck (aka Abraham van Diepenbeek; Abraham van Diepenbeke) (1596–1675), plate 54 in the series of 58 illustrations to Michel de Marolles’ (1600–1681) “Tableaux du Temple des Muses” (aka “Tableaux du temple des muses tirez du cabinet de feu Mr Favereau, et gravez en tailles-douces par les meilleurs maistres de son temps pour représenter les vertus et les vices, sur les plus illustres fables de l'antiquité, avec les descriptions, remarques et annotations”), published by Nicolas Langlois in Paris in 1655. This impression may be from a later date as it is inscribed on the plate with the number, “57”.

Etching and engraving on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 32.5 x 22.7 cm; (plate) 27.4 x 18 cm; (image borderline) 23.3 x 17.6 cm.

Numbered and lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Tantale”; (centre) [two lines of Greek from Homer's Odyssey] HOMER. Odyss. XI.”; (right) “54”.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Mythological scene with Tantalus in a river trying to reach for some fruits on a tree at left, Hell in left background; after Abraham van Diepenbeeck; illustration on page 427 from Marolles' "Temple des Muses" (Paris, Nicolas Langlois: 1655). c.1635-1638”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1973-0616-52).

Note: the BM references this print in Marcel Roethlisberger’s “Abraham Bloemaert and His Sons” (1993) with cat. no. “CB11”, but this reference is incorrect as CB11 is the cat. no. for “The Slaying of the Niobids” (see vol. 1, p. 524).

Condition: strong impression but with a printer’s crease on the right. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, losses, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this pair of etchings based on the same design, but executed by different artists with a gap of around 75 years separating them, for AU$334 in total for the pair (currently US$255.55/EUR208.40/GBP188.81 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.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing pair of superb quality etchings, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This pair of prints has been sold

Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

“Tantalus’ Torment” (aka “Tantalus in Hades”), 1730, after the engraving by Cornelis Bloemaert and Theodor Matham after the design by Abraham van Diepenbeeck, first published in Amsterdam by Zacharias Chatelain (fl.1705–1749) in 1733 in “Le temple des muses: orné de LX tableaux où sont représentés les evenemens les plus remarquables de l'antiquité fabuleuse” (The temple of the muses: decorated with 60 illustrations representing the most remarkable events of fabulous antiquity), plate inset between pages 142 and 143 (see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125012263162/page/n265/mode/2up).

Etching and engraving in two plates (an outer frame plate and an inner image plate) on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 46.4 x 28.6 cm; (outer plate) 35.5 x 25.7 cm; (image borderline) 34.2 x 24.4 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image: “B. Picart dir. / TANTALE CONDAMNÉ À SOUFFRIR LA FAIM & LA SOIF, │Des Tantalus Bunderbahre bestrafung / MALGRÉ LES FRUITS & LES EAUX QUI L’ENVIRONNENT. │Tantalus midden onder Vrugten en Wateren, / Tantalus’s torment. │tot honger en dorst verweesen.”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Tantalus in Hades, standing in shoulder-deep water, tries to pick up some fruits from a tree; in ornate frame, with winds on each side, and peacock in the lower part, printed from a separate plate; plate LVI to 'Le Temple des Muses' (first published Amsterdam: Chatelain, 1733). c.1730/33”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1914-0214-214).

Condition: strong, near faultless impression in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

Cornelis Bloemaert's and Bernard Picart's etchings of "Les Danaides" after Abraham van Diepenbeeck

Cornelis Bloemaert (1603–1692) and Theodor Matham (aka Dirk Matham) (1605/1606–76) (for the background)

“Les Danaides”, c1635–1638, after Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1596–1675), plate 57 in a series of 60 illustrations, “Cabinet Favereau”, published by Michel de Marolles' (1600–81) in “Tableaux du temple des muses tirez du cabinet de feu Mr. Favereau” (Paris, Nicolas Langlois, 1655), p. 451.

Etching and engraving on fine laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 32.9 x 22.8 cm; (plate) 27.7 x 18.5 cm; (image borderline) 23.4 x 17.8 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Les Danaides.”; (centre) “Belidum pœnas, et inane lymphæ/ Dolium fundo pereuntis imo.”; (right) Horatius Ode 2. Lib. 3.”

Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (right corner) “57”.

New Hollstein (Dutch & Flemish) 261.II (Theodoor Matham) (F W H Hollstein 1993, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts 1450-1700”, Amsterdam); Hollstein 34-93 (after Diepenbeeck); Hollstein 90-148; Roethlisberger 1993 CB11 (Marcel G Roethlisberger 1993, “Abraham Bloemaert and his sons: Paintings and prints”, 2 vols, Ghent).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Mythological scene in Hell with naked Danaids pouring water in a bottomless barrel; after Abraham van Diepenbeeck”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3235261&partId=1&searchText=Dolium+fundo+pereuntis+imo&page=1)

Condition: crisp, well-printed impression in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, abrasions or significant stains) with full margins as published.

I am selling this arresting vision of hell with nymphs engaged in the endless labour of trying to fill a bottomless vessel for AU$172 in total (currently US$122.01/EUR107.69/GBP91.74 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this museum quality engraving by Cornelis Bloemaert and Theodor Matham—two of the most famous of the old master printmakers—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note: if you wish to purchase this print along with the Picart version that I am also posting at this time the combined total price including shipping will be AU$344 (currently about US$244.02/EUR215.38/GBP183.48).

This print has been sold

Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

‘Les Danaides”, 1730, after the design in reverse by Cornelis Bloemaert (1603–1692) after Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1596–1675), published in Amsterdam in 1733 by Zacharie Chatelain (fl.1700–50) as illustration, plate LIX (59), to “Le Temple des Muses.”

Etching and engraving printed from two plates on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 39.6 x 27.6 cm; (outer plate) 36 x 26 cm; (outer image borderline) 34.6 x 24.7 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the (inner) image borderline: (left) “B. Picart sculp. dir.”

Lettered on plate below the image in four languages (French, English, German and Dutch): “LES DANAÏDES CONDAMNÉES À REMPLIR D'EAU UN TONNEAU PERCÉ./ The Danaides condemned to fill bored refries with water.// Die Danaides berurtheilt, umb ein durchlöert fass mit wasser zu füllen./ De Danaides veroordeelt, om een ​​doorboort vat met water te vulle.”

Inscribed on plate below the (outer) image borderline: (left) “B. Bicart del. 1730.”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“The Danaids, naked, filling the leaky jar; in ornate frame, with tritoness on each side and putti riding hippokampoi in the lower part …”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1540120&partId=1&searchText=Chatelain+picart&page=1)

Condition: crisp, richly inked and well-printed impression in excellent/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this graphically framed scene for AU$188 in total (currently US$133.36/EUR117.71/GBP100.27 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this museum quality engraving printed from two plates—an outer “frame” plate and the inner “image” plate—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note: if you wish to purchase this print along with the Bloemaert version that I am also posting at this time the combined total price including shipping will be AU$344 (currently about US$244.02/EUR215.38/GBP183.48).

This print has been sold