Tobias Stimmer, “Joseph Interpreting the Pharaoh's Dreams”, 1574

Tobias Stimmer (1539–1584)

“Joseph Interpreting the Pharaoh's Dreams”, 1574, published in 1578 by Theodosius Rihel (aka Theodosius Rihelius) (fl.1557–1621) in Strasbourg, as a woodcut illustration to page 22 of Conrad Lautenbach’s (1534–1595) “Flauij Josephi, des Hochberühmten Jüdischen Geschichtschreibers, Historien vnd Bücher …” ([transl.] “Flavius Josephus, the very famous Jewish historian, histories and books …”) (see https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10139702?page=64,65).

Woodcut with German letterpress text on verso on fine laid paper trimmed around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet/image borderline) 10.8 x 14.7 cm.

Bibliographic references provided by the British Museum: Harms 1985 continuing / Deutsche Illustrierte Flugblätter des 16 und 17 Jahrhunderts (413); Andresen 1864-78 / Der Deutsche Peintre-Graveur ... von dem letzten Drittel des 16 Jahrhunderts bis zum Schluss des 18 Jahrhunderts (III.150.155 [17]); Stimmer 1984 / Tobias Stimmer 1539-1584: Spätrenaissance am Oberrhein (58).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Joseph interpreting the pharaoh's dreams; the pharaoh enthroned at centre; Joseph standing at right; with two onlookers at left; others in right background …” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1927-0430-4).

Regarding the attribution of this and the other woodcuts in “Flauij Josephi, des Hochberühmten Jüdischen Geschichtschreibers, Historien vnd Bücher …”, the Curator of the British Museum advises: “Andresen doubts the attribution to Stimmer, but the illustrations are included as Stimmer works in the 1984 Basel catalogue” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1927-0430-40). Note, that the British Museum in its description of this print does not use the term “attributed” in assigning the print to Stimmer; however, “The Illustrated Bartsch” catalogue of Tobias Stimmer’s prints (vol. 19, Part 2) does not catalogue this print with the works of Stimmer.

Condition: a very strong and early impression showing minimal signs of wear to the printing block. The print is trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. There is a replenished loss on the lower edge and the upper right corner, otherwise, the sheet has no significant stains.

I am selling this magnificent impression (mindful that there are restorations) of a beautifully executed woodcut, for AU$248 in total (currently US$163.14/EUR150.52/GBP129.14 at the time of posting 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 exquisite woodcut, 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 

Tobias Stimmer’s pair of woodcuts, “Sultans of Persia”, c1575

Tobias Stimmer (1539–1584)

Pair of woodcuts, “Sultans of Persia: (left) Tammasus Sophi Persarum; (right) Baiazeres 1. Turcarum Rex” (descriptive title only), c1575, set within aedicula ornamental frames of strapwork and allegorical figures, published in Basel in 1575 by Pietro Perna (1519–1582) and Henricus Petrus (1508–1579) as illustrations to Paolo Giovio’s (aka Paulo Jovio; Paulus Jovius) (1483–1552) “Pavli Iovii Novocomensis Episcopi Nvcerini Elogia Virorum bellica virtute illustrium: Septem libris iam olim ab Authore comprehensa, Et nunc ex eiusdem Mvsaeo ad viuum expressis Imaginibus exornata” (aka “Elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium” [The titles of distinguished military power]).

This pair of woodcuts may be viewed online in the context of the publication at archive.org:

(left) page 376 (https://archive.org/details/pavliioviinovoco00giov_0/page/376/mode/2up);

(right) page 108 (https://archive.org/details/pavliioviinovoco00giov_0/page/108/mode/2up).

I understand from the Wikipedia discussion about the publisher of these prints (Pietro Perna), that in “1570 Perna sent the artist Tobias Stimmer to Como to copy the famous collection of historical portraits in the [Paolo] Giovio Collection” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Perna). Possibly, this pair of woodcuts are based on portraits in (or were in) Giovio’s collection of 484 portraits.

Woodcuts on laid paper with letterpress text verso and narrow margins around the image borderlines backed with a single support sheet.

Size: (each sheet approx.) 16.1 x 15.4 cm; (approx. image borderline of each sheet) 16 x 15.3 cm.

Condition: well-printed impressions showing minor signs of wear to the printing plates. The upper left corner of the left print has been replenished, otherwise both sheets are in very good condition for their age with no stains or foxing and are laid onto a single archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this fine pair of Renaissance period woodcuts that consist of an inner plate featuring a portrait and an outer plate that is an ornamental frame designed to give aura of importance to the portrayed figure, for $300 in total for the pair of prints (currently US$211.35/EUR180.28/GBP162.82 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 these very interesting early woodcuts—note that the ornamental woodcut frames were used on other prints such as Stimmer’s woodcut, “Portrait of Francesco Filelfo” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1909-0729-2 )—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