Andreas Nunzer’s etching, “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” c.1718, after Bernardino Passeri

Andreas Nunzer (fl.c.1725–1740)

“Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, c.1718, initially published in Nuremberg in 1718 by Johann Christoph Lochner (1653–1730) on page 46, as an illustration to “Evangelia, samt denen Episteln oder Lectionen, auf alle Sonn und FenerTaeg des ganszen Jahrs, mit beygefuegten Heil. Passion Iesu Christi nach Beschreibung der vier evangelisten ..”, but this impression was possibly from the 1744 edition published in Banberg (based on the erased text below the image borderline).

Archive.org offer an online view of this print in its context in this publication: https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Y7dpilyJU0IC/page/n79/mode/2up.

The design is after Christoffel van Sichem II’s (1581–1658) woodcut executed in c.1629 (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.591131) and after Adriaen Collaert’s (c.1560–1618) engraving executed in c.1593 (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.332890) and after the original design by Bernardino Passeri (aka Bernardino Passari; Bernardo Passaro; Bernardus Passerus) (fl.1577–1585), as a Biblical illustration to verses 23 to 27 in chapter 8 of the “Gospel According to Matthew”; see New International Version: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%208%3A23-27&version=NIV).

Etching on fine laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 16.9 x 8.5 cm; (image borderline) 14.5 x 7.9 cm.

Lettered in the plate at the upper right: “P. 46.”

Condition: a strong impression, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline. There is a slight darkening to the lower-right corner, otherwise the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing and is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this curiously wonderful etching that is full of theatrical drama despite its small size—note the wind zephyrs blowing up a gale on the sea of Galilee while Christ sleeps soundly at the bow of a boat (my apologies if it is really the stern, but I’ve decided that the position of the mast and sail suggests his position is the at the boat’s front) full-to-the-brim with his fearful disciples—for AU$227 in total (currently US$151.73/EUR137.28/GBP120.85 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 marvellous etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Engraving after Cornelis Cort & Bernardino Passeri, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt”, c.1588

Unidentified Flemish engraver from the circle of Jan Sadeler I (1550–1600) and Thomas de Leu (c.1555–c.1612)

Compare the print by an unidentified engraver (published by Jan Sadeler I) held by the British Museum (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1866-0407-836) with the print by Thomas de Leu held by the Rijksmuseum (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.139694). Note that the earlier state of the print by Thomas de Leu is dated 1580.

“Rest on the Flight into Egypt” (aka “Le Repos en Egypte”), c.1588 (BM: 1576–1600), copy in reversed and reduced in size after Cornelis Cort’s (1533-1578) engraving (1576) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Nn-7-28-1), after Bernardino Passeri’s (c.1540–c.1590) composition, possibly published by Jan Sadeler I (aka Johannes Sadeler; Johann Sadeler) in Antwerp.

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed along the image borderline with loss of any lettered text below the borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet/image borderline) 16 x 13.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate on lower edge: “BERNARDINVS / PASSARVS / INVEN.”

Condition: well-printed and strong impression trimmed around the image borderline with loss of the text lines below the borderline. There are replenished losses (restorations) otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition and is laid onto a support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this superb engraving from the late 1500s for AU$323 (currently US$221.69/EUR197.57/GBP179.68 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 masterwork of engraving, sparkling with light and exemplifying the engraver’s skill in rendering portrayed subjects with great clarity—note the modelling of the apple held by Joseph and the braying donkey in the distance—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Adriaen Collaert's engraving, “The Miracle of Christ on the Sea of Galilee”, 1593

Adriaen Collaert (c.1560–1618)

“The Miracle of Christ on the Sea of Galilee” (aka “Dominica IIII. Post Epiphan”; “Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Jesus Calms a Storm at Sea”), 1593, after Bernardino Passeri (aka Bernardino Passari; Bernardo Passaro; Bernardus Passerus) (fl.1577–1585), published by Martinus Nutius (fl.1593–1628) in Antwerp in 1593 as Plate 29 illustration to the Gospels of Matt 8, Mark 4 and Luke 8 in Jerome Nadal’s (1507–1580), “Evangelicae Historiae Imagines” (Illustrations of the Gospel Stories), published shortly after Nadal’s death. In 1594 and 1595, the plate was republished in the expanded volume, “Adnotationes et Meditationes in Evangelia” (Notes and Meditations on the Gospels). (Catholic Resources offer a full account of the publication of this print: https://catholic-resources.org/Art/Nadal.htm)

Engraving on fine laid paper trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 17.9 x 14.7 cm; (image borderline) 17.4 x 14.3 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline along the lower edge: (left of centre) “B. Pass. Rom. Inuent.”; (right of centre) “Adrian. Collaert Sculp.”

Lettered on plate from “A” to “H” beside relevant pictorial features of the image correlating with an index of liturgical, biblical and descriptive information in the accompanying text (trimmed from this impression).

State ii (of iii) This impression matches the second state copy held by the Rijksmuseum (RP-P-OB-67,158}; nevertheless, the state is difficult to ascertain with certainty as the accompanying text is missing. Based on the quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate this impression is most likely a very early impression.

New Hollstein Dutch 1714-2(3) (Marjolein Leesberg & Arnout Balis [eds.] 2005–06, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: The Collaert Dynasty”, vol. 7, Ouderkerk aan den Ijssel, Sound and Vision, p. 27, cat. 1714).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print (note that the copy held by the Rijksmuseum retains the indexed legend of explanations that is missing from this impression):

(transl.) “The ship with Christ and his disciples suddenly falls into a heavy storm. High waves ravage the ship. The disciples are afraid of their lives but Christ sleeps peacefully on deck. Various elements from the representation have letters that correspond to the legend in the margin.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.332890)

See also the description of this print offered by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco:

https://art.famsf.org/adriaen-collaert/miracle-chyrist-sea-galilee-evangelicae-historiae-imagines-19633014097.

Condition: richly inked and well-printed, museum quality/near faultless impression with a small margin around the image borderline (approx. 2 mm). The sheet is in pristine condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, stains or foxing—but there is a pencil notation from a previous collector verso).

I am selling this small but very important engraving—arguably, one of the first biblical illustrations to employ perspective (see Catholic Resource ibid.)—for AU$440 (currently US$303.53/EUR273.42/GBP233.07 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 masterpiece of early engraving—note the full range of the apostles’ facial expressions as they decide to wake Jesus during a storm and the amazing treatment of the surging sea—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