Jan Luyken, “The Second Plague of Egypt: Frogs Over the Land”, 1708

Jan Luyken (also known as Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)
“The Second Plague of Egypt: Frogs Over the Land” (Tweede Plaag van Egipte. De Vorschen komen op over Egÿptenland), 1708

The Rijksmuseum describes this print (in translation): “View of a city on a river teeming with frogs. The frogs emerge from the water onto the land. On the bank, people try to shake the frogs off or flee. The print is a depiction of the second plague that God brought upon Egypt” (Rijksmuseum Object Record).

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on laid paper (“Strasburg Bend & Lily” watermark) with full margins as published in 1729 in Amsterdam by Johannes Covens I and Cornelis Mortier (active 1721–1778). It is plate 12 (of 62) in “Icones Biblicae Veteris et N. Testamenti” (Figures of the Old and New Testament).

This is State ii (of ii), showing the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier I to his son, Cornelis Mortier, and Cornelis’ brother-in-law, Johannes Covens. The privilege note has also been erased in this state.

The impression is richly inked, strong, and near faultless—an excellent early impression, evidenced by the crisp lines with no signs of wear to the printing plate. The original publication centre-fold has been professionally flattened. The sheet is in pristine condition, free of tears, holes, stains, or handling marks.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 33.9 x 55 cm
• Plate mark: 33.7 x 43.6 cm
• Image borderline: 31.7 x 42.3 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image):

• Left: “Edit. à J. Covens et C. Mortier.”
• Left of centre: “Tweede Plaag van Egipte. De Vorschen komen op over Egÿptenland. Exod: VIII”
• Right of centre: “Seconde Playe d’Egypt. Les Grenoüilles répendues dans tout le Pays. Exode VIII.”
• Right: Johannes Luyken Inv: et fecit. / 12.”

References:

•  Van Eeghen 3701 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen, Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken, 1905, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 660, cat. no. 3701) —https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/n279/mode/2up
• British Museum: Museum Number 1892,0411.63.13—https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1892-0411-63-13   
• Rijksmuseum: Object Number RP-P-OB-67.873—https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200396168

Price & Shipping:

AU$288 (approximately US$201.16 / €175.75/ £149.53), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you're interested in acquiring this extraordinarily detailed etching—featuring Moses in the lower-left foreground guiding his brother, Aaron, who follows God’s word by raising his rod over the waters to summon a plague of frogs upon the inhabitants of Egypt—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold

Jan Luyken, “Herod Fights the Robbers in their Caves”, 1708

Jan Luyken (aka Johannes Luyken) (1649–1712)

“Herod Fights the Robbers in their Caves” (aka. “Herodes Beoorlogt de Roovers inde Rotsen door Soldaaten die in Kisten aan yzere kettingen hangende door windaasen neergelaaten worden” [Herod Fights the Robbers in the Rocks by Soldiers Hanging in Chests on Iron Chains and Lowered by Windlasses]; “Herod Conquers Jerusalem”), 1708, published by Jan Covens (aka Johannes Covens) (1697–1774) and his brother-in-law, Corneille Mortier (aka Cornelis Mortier) (fl.1688–c.1708) in 1729 as plate 62 on page 355 of “Icones Biblicae Veteris et Novi Testamenti”.

Etching on laid paper with full margins and centre-fold as published.

Size: (sheet) 56 x 61 cm; (plate) 33.3 x 42.4 cm; (image borderline) 32 x 41.7 cm.

Lettered in the plate below the image borderline: (left) “Edit. à J. Cóvens et C. Mortier.”; (centre) “Herodes Beoorlogt de Roovers inde Rotsen door Soldaaten die in Kisten aan yzere kettingen hangende door windaasen neergelaaten worden.”; (right) “Pag. 355./ “62”.

Van Eeghen 3743.67 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 666, cat. no. 3743.67 [see https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/666/mode/2up]).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200396215.

Interestingly, Jan Luyken executed an etching in 1698 that features a small section of this much larger composition, used as an illustration to volume 2 of Flavius Josephus’ “Des wijdt-vermaerden Joodschen Historieschrijvers Boecken”; see https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200224208.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with generously wide margins and flattened centrefold. The sheet is in an excellent (near pristine) condition for its considerable age and size with no tears, holes, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this huge etching showing the Roman’s windlass system for lowering soldiers in boxes to access their foes who are literally holed up in mountainside caves, for AU $317 in total (currently US $196.36/ EUR 191.12/ GBP 161.38 at the time of posting this print) 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 $317) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing scene of Roman battle engineering, 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 Luyken, “Announcement to the Shepherds”, 1708

Jan Luyken (aka Johannes Luyken; Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)

“Announcement to the Shepherds” (aka “The Angel Announces the Birth of Jesus Christ to the Shepherds”, 1708, published by Jan Covens (aka Johannes Covens) (1697–1774) and his brother-in-law, Corneille Mortier (aka Cornelis Mortier) (fl.1688–c.1708) in c.1708 as plate 40 with Dutch and French captions to “Verbeeldingen der Historiën des Ouden en Nieuwen Testaments” (Representations of the History of the Old and New Testament), in Amsterdam.

Etching on fine laid paper with a flattened centrefold backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 42.1 x 51.5 cm; (plate) 34.5 x 45cm; (image borderline) 33 x 44cm.

Inscribed in faded ink by an old hand within the blank writing area at lower right corner: [possibly} “St Peter”.

Lettered below the image borderline: (left) “Edit. à J.Covens et C. Mortier.”; (left of centre) “De Engel verkondigt de Geboorte J:C:aan de Herders. Luc.II.v.8.”; (right of centre) “l'Ange' Annonce la Naissance de J:C: aux Bergers. Luc.II. v.8.”; (right) “Johannes Luyken Inv: et Fecit./ 40.”.

Van Eeghen 3722 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 663, cat. no. 3722 [see https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/662/mode/2up]).

Van Eeghen (1905) offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “In the foreground on the left the cattle, on the right the shepherds, to whom the announcement is made by an angel who emerges from the cloud that occupies the upper left part of the print and that is completely occupied by innumerable inhabitants of heaven. On the right in the foreground a spot has been kept completely white, apparently to be used for an inscription.” (p.663).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200396198.

Condition: a strong and well-printed (lifetime) impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with the centrefold of publication flattened and laid upon an archival support of millennium quality washi paper. Beyond the slight ridge of the flattened centrefold and an ink inscription by an old hand within the blank writing space at the lower right corner, the sheet is in an excellent condition for its large size and considerable age.

I am selling this huge and visually arresting etching showing heaven opening in a burst of light and the angel, Gabriel, announcing the birth of Jesus Christ to shepherds attending their flocks—note how many of the animals (viz. cows, sheep and goats) also turn their heads to the startling event—for AU $274 (currently US $170.44/ EUR 165.72/ GBP137.39 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $274) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkable etching executed with extraordinary detail, 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 Luyken’s etching, “The Conversion of St Paul”, 1708 (2nd impression)

Jan Luyken (aka Johannes Luyken; Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)

“The Conversion of St Paul” (aka “La Conversion de Saint Paul”; “Paulus Bekeering” [titles inscribed in French and Dutch on plate]; “St. Paul on Road to Damascus”), 1708, plate 58 from a series of sixty-two Old and New Testament biblical prints first published by Pieter Mortier (1661–1711) in 1708. This impression is from either the 1729 or the 1743 edition published by Jan Covens (1697–1774) and Corneille Mortier (fl.1688–c1743) in “Biblia Sacra, dat is, de H. Schriftuer van het Oude, en het Nieuwe Testament, naer de laetste Roomsche keure der gemeine Latijnsche overzettinge, in nederduitsch vertaeld (...)”. (Note that this information is based on another dealer’s description selling the same print from the later 1743 edition: https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/wall-decorations/prints/antique-bible-print-conversion-paul-j-luyken-1743/id-f_9329201/.)

Etching on fine laid paper with wide margins and flattened centrefold.

Size: (sheet) 49 x 56.9 cm; (plate) 34.3 x 44.3 cm; (image borderline) 32.9 x 43.4 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Edit. à J. Covens et C. Mortier.”; (left of centre) “Paulus Bekeering. Handeling: IX.v: 4.”; (right of centre) “La Conversion de Saint Paul. Actes [sic] IX. vs: 4.”; (right) “Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit./ 58.”

State ii (of ii) with the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier I to his son, Corneille Mortier and Corneille’s brother-in-law, Jan Covens, and the erasure of the privilege. Lifetime/early impression (based on the crisp quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

Van Eeghen 3740 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 665, cat. no. 3740).

This publication is available for online viewing or free download at archive.org (note that the page numbering is challenging and the URL below may be helpful):

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125001866108/page/n295/mode/2up (see cat. no. 3740).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed, near faultless impression with generously wide margins and with the centre-fold of publication flattened. The sheet in near pristine/museum quality condition.

I am selling this museum-quality etching in an exceptionally fine state of preservation for AU$281 (currently US$198.57/EUR188.25/GBP157.97 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 spectacular etching portraying an unworldly blinding light—note how Luyken convincingly suggests a blazing spiritual light by strong tonal contrast and by contrast between the mechanically straight lines of the shafts of light with the organic curves of the silhouetted tree at left and the turmoil of fragmented curves of the soldiers below—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This is the second impression of this huge etching that I have listed. The previously listed copy has been sold.

This print has been sold