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’s etching, “The Ultimate Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and the Temple”, 1708

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

“The Ultimate Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and the Temple” (aka “De Uyterste verdelging van de Stad Jerusalem en den Tempel” [title inscribed in plate]; “Vernietiging van Jeruzalem door het Babylonische leger” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1708, from a series of sixty-two Old and New Testament biblical prints first published in 1708 in Amsterdam by Pieter Mortier (1661–1711) in “Icones Biblicae Veteris et Novi Testamenti”. This impression is from the 1729 edition published in Amsterdam by Matten Schagen (fl.1729–) on page 68g (as inscribed in plate at upper left).

Etching on laid paper with full margins and flattened centrefold.

Size: (sheet) 47.5 x 56.5 cm; (plate) 33.5 x 43 cm; (image borderline) 32 x 42 cm.

Lettered in plate above the image borderline: (left) “Pag. 68g.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. Luyken inv.”; (centre) “De Uyterste verdelging van de Stad Jerusalem en den Tempel.”; (right) “M. Schagen Excudit.”

State ii (of ii) with the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier to Matten Schagen. Lifetime/early impression (based on the crisp quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the printing plate).

Van Eeghen 3717 (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. 3717).

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/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/663/mode/1up  (see cat. no. 3717).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “After the siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonian army returns home with the looted treasures of the city. In the background Jerusalem in the flames” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.337027).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed, near faultless impression with generously wide margins, flattened centre-fold of publication and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond minor age-toning to the edges, the sheet in an excellent condition with no stains or foxing.

I am selling this large, museum-quality etching in an exceptionally fine state of preservation for AU$322 (currently US$221.41/EUR220.55/GBP187.27 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 showing on an epic scale the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its temple by the Babylonian army, 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 Plague of Fiery Hail over Egypt”, 1708

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

“The Plague of Fiery Hail over Egypt” (aka “Plaag van hagel en onweer” [transl. “Plague of hail and thunder” (Rijksmuseum title)]; “De Plaag van Hagel en Vuur over Egipte” [title on plate]), 1708, published by Pieter Mortier I (1661–1711) as an illustration to “Icones Biblicae Veteris et Novi Testamenti”, in Amsterdam.

Etching on laid paper trimmed with small margins around the image borderline and the lettered publication details, and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 33.8 x 42.5 cm; (image borderline) 32.5 x 41.8 cm

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “P. Mortier. edit. cum Privileg.”; (centre) “De Plaag van Hagel en Vuur over Egipte. Exod. IX.” Note that the lettered reference, “Pag. 54.”, has been lost with restoration of the lower-right corner.

Lifetime impression.

Van Eeghen 3242/3705 (P van Eeghen 1905, “Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken”, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, pp. 586 & 661, cat. nos. 3242 & 3705). Note that this publication is available for online viewing or free download at archive.org:

(Van Eeghen 3242) https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/n205;

(Van Eeghen 3705) https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/n283

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Google transl.) “View of a landscape where the storms, lightning and where people and animals are struck by huge hailstones. In the background the contours of a city. The print is a depiction of the seventh plague that God made over Egypt.”

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.337007

Condition: near faultless, well-printed impression, trimmed with small margins and laid on a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a replenished loss at the lower right corner, otherwise the sheet is in an excellent/near pristine condition.

I am selling this superb lifetime impression, for AU$193 (currently US$137.90/EUR122.07/GBP106.92 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 finely executed, large and graphically arresting scene featuring fiery hailstones—larger than cannonballs!—falling on distressed Egyptian folk and their animals (viz. horses, camels, oxen, sheep and at least one pig), 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