Herman van Swanevelt, “Balaam and the Ass”, c. 1635

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (1603–1655)

“Balaam and the Ass” (TIB title) (aka “Balaam”; “Bileam en de ezel met de engel” [Balaam and the donkey with the angel]), c. 1635 (1629–1641), from the series, “Old Testament Representations” (“Oudtestamentische voorstellingen”), published in Paris by Pierre Mariette I (1596–1657) with royal privilege from Louis XIV (King of France). 

Etching on laid paper (grape watermark [French]) with reasonably wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 27.7 x 34.8 cm; (plate); 25.3 x 32 cm; (image borderline) 22.7 x 31.2 cm.

Hand-inscribed numbers in ink: (upper right corner) “40”; (lower right corner) “2”.

Lettered in plate within the image borderline: (upper right): “H Swaneûelt Fecit Rom.”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Auec Priuil du Roy”; (centre) “A Paris chez Pierre Mariette Rue S^t Iacques a lésperance.”

State v (of viii) showing the publication details for Pierre Mariette before they were changed with publication details for Nicolas Jean Baptiste de Poilly in the sixth state.

TIB 2.111 (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, Abaris Books, New York, p. 315); Hollstein Dutch 5

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “In a hilly landscape with trees, Balaam is depicted in the left foreground, seated on a recoiling donkey. In his right hand, he holds a sword, and before him stands an angel drawing a sword from its sheath” (https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200261014).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-2299.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with good margins (approx. 1.5 cm). Beyond an area of thinness in the margin at upper right and partial erased pencil notations along the lower margin, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or other issues.

Price & Shipping: AU$394 (approx. US$257.53/ €222.84/ £195.59), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and superb 17th-century impression of a beautiful etching by one of the foremost Dutch masters of the Baroque era—highlighting the luminous quality characteristic of the artist’s work and the dramatic interaction between Balaam and the angel, emphasised by a burst of light surrounding them—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will gladly provide a secure and convenient PayPal invoice for your purchase.

This print has been sold 

Herman van Swanevelt, “The Magdalen Repentant”, c.1650

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (1603–1655)

“The Magdalen Repentant” (aka “La Madeleine en Penitence”; “Penitent Mary Magdalene in the Wilderness”), c.1650 (1643–1655), from the series of four plates, “Landscapes with Penitent Saints”, published in Paris by André Vanheck with privilege from Louis XIV (King of France).

Etching on laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Herman van Swanevelt Inventor fecit”; (right) “AParis chez Vanheck/ cum privilegio Regis”.

Size: (sheet) 28.8 x 36.2 cm; (plate); 25.3 x 32.9 cm; (image borderline) 23.9 x 32.6 cm.

State iii? (of iv) with the lettered addition of Vanheck as publisher.

TIB 2.107 (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, Abaris Books, New York, p. 311); Hollstein Dutch 12-3 (4).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-2291; https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200261007.

Condition: a well-printed impression with small margins around the platemark (approx. 1.5 cm) and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond a small mark in the cliff above the Magdalene and a replenished spot also above the Magdalene, the sheet is in a good condition with no significant stains or other issues.

I am selling this large and fascinating etching that delicately merges Mary Magdalene in her state of repentance accompanied by the sound of angels playing musical instruments and a sublime image of wildness in the spirit of Italian classical compositions, for the total cost of AU$246 (approx. US$161.44, EUR 138,88, or GBP 120.19). Global express shipping is included. Import duties, if any, are the buyer's responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this this sensitively executed etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that this is the second impression that I have listed of this print—the previous copy has been sold.

Herman van Swanevelt’s etching, “Laundresses”, c1653

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (c1603–1655)

“Laundresses” (aka “Les Blanchisseuses”; “Landschap met wasvrouwen” “Landscape with Washerwomen”), 1650–55, from the series, “Twelve Landscapes” (aka “Twaalf landschappen”), published in Paris c1650–1705.

Etching on laid paper trimmed slightly within the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.9 x 28.4 cm; (image borderline) 17.6 x 28.1 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Herman van Suanvelt Inventor fecit”.

State v (of v) with the erasure of Swanevelt as the publisher (“excudit”) and the Royal privilege (“cum privilegio Regis”).

TIB 90 (300); (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 294 cat. no. 90 [300]); Hollstein Dutch 94-5(5) (Dieuwke de Hoop Scheffer [comp.] 1984, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts c.1450–1700: Samuel de Swaef to Jan Thesing”, vol. 29, Blaricum, A.L. van Gendt, p. 88, cat.no. 94).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “A man and a woman are walking on a path in front of a church in a mountainous landscape. In the river next to the path, a man soaks his donkey and two women do the laundry.”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.181886).

Condition: a well-printed, slightly silvery impression trimmed minimally within the platemark and laid onto an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. Beyond a few pale marks (e.g. at the centre of the lower edge and the lower right corner), the sheet is in a very good condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, losses, abrasions, significant stains of foxing).

I am selling this poetically glowing landscape with the raking light of early morning (or perhaps later afternoon), for a total cost of AU$292 (currently US$211.21/EUR178.72/GBP178.72 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.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkably beautiful landscape showcasing Swanevelt’s skill in creating the illusion of spatial depth, 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

Herman van Swanevelt’s etching, “Landscape with Sunset”, c.1655

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (c.1603–1655)

“Landscape with Sunset” (aka “Landschap met zonsondergang”; “Sunset Landscape”; “Le soir”), 1653–55, from the series, “Hill landscapes” (aka “Heuvellandschappen”), a lifetime impression published by Swanevelt (as inscribed on the plate) before the later edition published by Louis Joseph Mondhare (fl.1760–1792) in Paris.

Etching and engraving on laid paper (watermark featuring a crowned escutcheon with six balls), trimmed along/close to the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 18.3 x 28.6 cm; (image borderline) 17.3 x 27.7 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “HS fe et ex. pr Re”.

State ii (of iv) with the addition of Swanevelt’s initials and publication details, but before the addition of the publication details of publisher, Louis-Joseph Mondhare (see Rijksmuseum’s copy of state iii with Mondhare’s address: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.181909).

TIB 81 (294); (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 285 cat. no. 81 [294]); Hollstein Dutch 107-2(4) (Dieuwke de Hoop Scheffer [comp.] 1984, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts c.1450–1700: Samuel de Swaef to Jan Thesing”, vol. 29, Blaricum, A.L. van Gendt, p. 96, cat. no. 107); Nagler 81.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “Some hikers walk on a path along the river. A hiker crosses the river and in the distance is a building on a hill. At the building, a shepherd is herding a flock of sheep”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.181908).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed lifetime impression from the second state (of vi) still retaining the inscribed guide lines for the lettered publication details, trimmed along or close to the plate mark. Beyond a flattened centre fold (not visible recto), the sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, losses, abrasions, significant stains of foxing).

I am selling this superb early impression of this remarkably beautiful landscape with the raking light of sunset and many travellers—I found nine but there may be more—making their way to a hill top villa at upper left, for a total cost of AU$360 (currently US$235.37/EUR215.81/GBP193.47 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous landscape showcasing Swanevelt’s skill in creating the illusion of spatial depth by using rich blacks of etched lines in the foreground to delicately fine engraved strokes rendering the far distance, 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

Herman van Swanevelt's etching, "The Death of Adonis", 1654

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (c.1603–1655)

“The Death of Adonis” [La Mort d’Adonis], 1654 (as inscribed on plate), plate 5 from the series, “Six Landscapes with the story of Adonis”, based on Ovid’s account of a myth in which Adonis is gored by a boar later to die in Aphrodite's arms with her tears mingling with his blood to become the anemone flower (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonis).

Etching on laid paper with small margins backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 28.3 x 35.2 cm; (plate); 26 x 34 cm; (image borderline) 23.5 x 33.6 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Adonis Rencontre le Sanglier et fut tue alause/ quil Nauoit pas bien apris son Mestier”; (left of centre) “Herman Van Swaneuelt fecit”; (centre) “5”; (right of centre) “Cum preuilegio Regis 1654.”; (left)  “Aussy les Jgnorens la premiere Aduersitte les Renuerse/ Sans Esperence de Jamais plus se Releuel".

State i (of iii) before the addition of the details of publisher, Henri Bonnart, in the second state (see Rijksmuseum no. RP-P-1888-A-13941), and the deletion of the plate number, “5”, in the final state (see http://www.drawingsandprints.com/SearchInventory/SearchDetails.cfm?id=19247).

TIB 105 (311); (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, New York, Abaris Books, p. 309 cat. no. 105 [311]); Bartsch II.311.105; Hollstein 22.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 5: The death of Adonis. Landscape with the hunter lying on the ground on a mound next to a large tree, his two dogs about to attack the boar at left; view of a wooded valley in background”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1630728&partId=1&searchText=swanevelt&page=3).

See also the description of the print offered by Te Pap Tongarewa (The Museum of New Zealand):

“In The death of Adonis, the fifth print in the series, the lifeless body of Adonis, his hunting dogs and the great boar are set in the foreground of a lush, idyllic landscape. The split tree trunk and a broken tree stump are reminders of his birth and symbolise his life cut short. The French verse below laments the impatience and impetuousness of youth”

(https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/40083).

Condition: superb, well-printed impression laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions or significant stains).

I am selling this large and visually arresting etching of the highest quality by Swanevelt for a total cost of AU$360 (currently US$247.51/EUR222.63/GBP188.66 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this jewel of a classical landscape where portrayed figures and the narrative in which they are engaged are sublimated to a grand vision of landscape, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note: I have another exceptionally beautiful etching by Herman van Swanevelt which inexplicably is still available (at the moment of writing), “The Mountain”, 1650–55:

https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2018/05/herman-van-swanevelts-etching-mountain.html.

This print has been sold