Gérard de Lairesse, “Venus Fills Cupid's Quiver”, c.1677–80

Gérard de Lairesse (1640–1711)

“Venus Fills Cupid's Quiver” (aka “Venus Replenishing Cupid's Quiver with Arrows”; “Venus and Cupid at the Forge of Vulcan”), c.1677–80, plate three from the series, of four plates, “The Life of Venus” (aka “Venus and Cupid”), published by Nicolaes Visscher II (aka Nicolai Vischer; Claes Claesz Visscher) (1649–1702). Based on the number inscribed at lower right (“56”), this impression is from the “Opus Elegantissimum” edition of 104 plates, published in Amsterdam by Gerard Valck (aka Gerard Valk) (1651/2–1726) (see the Curator of the British Museum’s comment about this edition regarding the title plate to the edition: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1929-1112-2-1).

Etching on laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed by a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 24.1 x 16.6cm; (plate) 21.4 x 17.2cm; (image borderline) 20.8 x 16.6cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “3”; (centre) “Per Gerardum de Lairesse inv: et sculp: et per Nicolaum Visscher edit: cum Privil: Ord: General: Belgii Fæderati.”; (right) “56”.

Hollstein Dutch 29; Timmers 29

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (not reproduced): “Venus filling the quiver of Cupid with arrows which are being forged behind her; a plate from a series of four on Venus and Cupid. c.1677/80” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1929-1112-2-52).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum and Harvard Art Museums: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200528267; https://hvrd.art/o/339704.

Condition: a well-printed impression with narrow margins around the image borderline and laid onto archival (millennium-quality) washi paper that provides generous margins. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains.

I am selling this very beautiful etching that to my eyes seems sculpted by light, for the total cost of AU$333 (approximately US$217.87, EUR 186.35, or GBP 161.37), this includes worldwide express postage and handling. Please note that any applicable import duties or taxes imposed by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this sensitively executed etching, 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

Gérard de Lairesse’s etching, “Cain Killing Abel with the Jawbone of an Ass”, c1680

Gérard de Lairesse (aka Gerardi de Lairesse; Gerardum de Lairesse) (1640–1711)

“Cain Killing Abel with the Jawbone of an Ass”, c1680, plate 5 from a series of etchings illustrating the Old Testament (Timmers 1 to 7), published by Nicolaes Visscher II (aka Nicolai Vischer; Claes Claesz Visscher) (1649–1702) in c1675 as an illustration to “Opus Elegantissimum” (see folios 65v-66r in the online scroll of this publication offered by the Yale Center for British Art: https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/orbis:4190566). The etching was later published by Gerard Valck (aka Gerard Valk) (1651/1652–1726) in Valck’s edition (c1702) of “Opus Elegantissimum” with the publication details, “nunc apud Ger.Valk” and “49”. This is a lifetime impression before the Valck edition.

The Curator of the British Museum offers the following insight regarding the publication of this print: “Timmers (p.83) records four editions of the plates: 1. with Visscher's address, 2. with Valck's added, 3. with the plates numbered, 4. with Schenk's address. He also notes that almost all copies show differences in content and order” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1929-1112-2-1).

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

Size: (sheet) 22.1 x 25.3 cm; (image borderline) 20.5 x 24.3 cm.

Numbered and lettered in plate below the image borderline: (centre) “Fratrum quoque gratia rara./ Per Gerardum de Lairesse inv: et sculp: et per Nicolaum Visscher edit: cum Privil: Ord: Gen: Belgii Fæderati.”; (right) “5”.

State i (of iv) (?) before the three alterations with publication details (see Timmers, p. 83).

Timmers 5 (J.J.M. Timmers 1942, “Gérard Lairesse”, Amsterdam, H J Paris, pp. 83 & 127, cat. no. 5).

Condition: a strong and well-printed lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed irregularly around the platemark and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond a pale mark in the sky at upper left, the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this superb etching showing the two sons of Adam and Eve fighting—note the crook that the shepherd, Abel, has dropped as the farmer, Cain, is about to kill him in a jealous rage with the jawbone of an ass after discovering that God favoured his brother—for the total cost of AU$368 (currently US$261.51/EUR231.10/GBP196.36 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 rare lifetime impression (based on the publication details), 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 

Hendrik Bary’s engraving, “Spring and Autumn”, c1670, after Anthony van Dyck

Hendrik Bary (aka Hendrick Barij) (1640–1707)

“Spring and Autumn” (aka “Two Children Playing: Spring and Autumn” [Twee Spelende Kinderen: Lente en Herfst]; “Personification of Spring and Autumn”), c1670 (1657–1677), after a painting by Anthony van Dyck (aka Anthony van Dijck; Antoon van Dijk; Anton van Dyck) (1599–1641), published by Nicolaes Visscher II (aka Nicolai Vischer; Claes Claesz Visscher; Nicolaas Visscher) (1649–1702) and Gerard Valck (aka Gerard Valk) (1651/52-1726) in Amsterdam.

Engraving on laid paper with a small margin around the platemark, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 29.9 x 24.5 cm; (plate) 28.9 x 24 cm; (image borderline) 25.4 x 23.5 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “A. van Dyck pinxit”; (centre) "De lieve Lente wil ons Schoone bloemen geven./ De Oegst schenkt nutter vrucht. men kan van reuk niet leven./ ex Formis Nicolai Visscher/ Cum Privelegio Ordinum Hollandiæ & West-Frisiæ. Nunc apud Ger. Valk."; (left) HBary Sculp.”

State iii (of iii) with the addresses of the publishers.

Hollstein 7 (Bary); New Hollstein 627 (van Dyck)

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “Two children playing, left Autumn with a fruit and corn, right Spring with a wreath of flowers [in his hair]. Under the image a verse of two lines in Dutch”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.75482).

See also the description of this print by the British Museum:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1875-0710-2761.

Condition: near faultless, richly inked impression with a small margin around the platemark and laid onto a support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent/museum-quality condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this very beautiful engraving featuring children playing in an allegory of the seasons in which “Sweet Spring wants to give us beautiful flowers. The harvest … more fruit”, for AU$356 (currently US$247.24/EUR218.95/GBP198.07 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 very fine engraving—it is such a strong impression that the lines show no sign of wear to the printing plate suggesting that it must be an early impression!—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

A pair of Johannes Visscher's etchings (c1660) after Adriaen Brouwer

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) 1633–c1692)

“The Smoker” (Hollstein title) (aka “Suus cuique crepitus bene olet” [inscribed on plate (transl.) “Each has its own noise smells”]), 1660, from the series of four plates, “Interior with Boors”, after a drawing by Adriaen Brouwer (aka Adriaen Brauer; Adriaen Brauwer) (1605/1606–1638).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed close to the plate mark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.7 x 17 cm; (plate) 22.4 x 16.6 cm; (image borderline) 19.3 x 14.9 cm

Numbered on plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “2”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (centre) “SUUS CUIQUE CREPITUS BENE OLET.”: (left) A. Brouwer delin.”; (right) J. de Visscher fecit auaforti”.

State iii (of iii) with the address of the publisher, Clemendt de Jonghe, erased.

Hollstein 107–110 (after Adriaen Brouwer);  Hollstein 11.III (D De Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1992,  “Hollstein’s Dutch & Flemish Etching, Engraving and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700”, vol. XLI, p. 14)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A boor seated on a low bench smoking before a fire with an old peasant woman stooping behind with a bowl of food; after Adriaen Brouwer”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1519317&partId=1&searchText=Johannes+Visscher+Brouwer&page=1)   

Condition: crisp impression but showing signs of wear to the plate with watercolour infilling replenishing the areas of wear. The sheet is trimmed with narrow margins around the plate mark and has been laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this print with Visscher’s “A Couple Saying Grace” from the same series (discussed next).

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) 1633–c1692)

“A Couple Saying Grace” (Hollstein title) (aka “imples omne animal benediction tva!” [inscribed on plate (transl.) “Fill all things living, the most!”]), 1660, from the series of four plates, “Interior with Boors”, after a drawing by Adriaen Brouwer (aka Adriaen Brauer; Adriaen Brauwer) (1605/1606–1638), published by Gerard Valck (1651/1652 - 1726).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed close to the plate mark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.6 x 17.3 cm; (plate) 22 x 16.7 cm; (image borderline) 19.2 x 15.2 cm

Numbered on plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “1”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (centre) “IMPLES OMNE ANIMAL BENEDICTION TVA! / G. Valck excudit.”: (left) A. Brouwer delin.”; (right) J. de Visscher fecit auaforti”.

State v (of v) with the name of the publisher added.

Hollstein 107–110 (after Adriaen Brouwer);  Hollstein 10.V (D De Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1992,  “Hollstein’s Dutch & Flemish Etching, Engraving and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700”, vol. XLI, p. 14)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print from the third state:

“A peasant couple saying grace at a low table in a sparse interior; after Adriaen Brouwer”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1519261&partId=1&searchText=Johannes+Visscher+Brouwer&page=1)   

Condition: crisp impression but showing signs of wear to the plate with watercolour infilling replenishing the areas of wear. The sheet is trimmed with narrow margins around the plate mark and has been laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this pair of etchings by Visscher that are perfect examples for comparing how cross-hatched lines may produce moire effects when the angle of intersection is less than 45 degrees  (as seen here in “A Couple Saying Grace”) and how this patterning disappears when the angle is close to ninety degree (as seen in “The Smoker”)—for AU$260 in total for the pair of prints (currently US$184.04/EUR161.78/GBP139.47 at the time of posting these prints) 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 pair of prints showing everyday life for the rural poor in the late 1600s, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.