Johannes Visscher, “Fountain Among Antique Ruins”, c. 1660, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (also known as Jan de Visscher) (1633/34–1712)

“Fountain Among Antique Ruins”, circa 1660

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with engraving on buff-coloured laid paper, unevenly trimmed around the platemark and professionally mounted to a secondary sheet of archival-quality washi paper providing stable structural support and wide margins for mounting.

This print is Plate 4 from the four-part series Pastoral Landscapes (Hollstein 99–102). While the first state was published in Amsterdam by Frederick de Wit (1629/30–1706), this impression represents the second and final state (of two). In this definitive second state, published by Justus Danckerts (1635–1701), rich clouds have been added to the sky, and the original publisher’s address has been burnished out.

The composition is engraved in reverse after a 1654 black chalk and grey-brown wash drawing by Nicolaes Berchem (also known as Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz. Berrighem) (1620–1683), currently preserved in the collection of the British Museum (inv. no. 1895,0915.1110 [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1895-0915-1110]).

The impression is strong and clear, demonstrating excellent contrast with minimal signs of wear to the copper plate. Aside from a small, professionally replenished spot and some age-related creasing along an old central fold, the sheet remains in excellent condition—free of tears or significant staining.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 19.9 x 26.2 cm (slightly uneven)
• Platemark: 19.5 x 26 cm
• Image borderline: 18.5 x 25.2 cm

In-Plate Lettering (Below the image):

• Left of centre: “CBerghem delin:”
• Right of centre: “J. Visscher fecit”
• Right: “4”

References:

• Hollstein: Dutch 102.II (Christiaan Schuckman, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700”, Vol. XLI, 1992, p. 70, cat. no. 102.II)
• Albertina Museum: Object number H/I/64/97 (https://sammlungenonline.albertina.at/objects/489194)
• British Museum: Museum number F,2.32 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_F-2-32)

Price & Shipping:

AU$267 (approx. US$186.95 / €162.96 / £138.12), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if applicable) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this bucolic scene of 17th-century life—where herdsmen tend to livestock drinking from a classical fountain ruin, while in the foreground a cow bellows contrasted with a resting shepherd cradling his rustic shawm—please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless, protected transaction.

This print has been sold 

Johannes Visscher’s engraving with etching, “The Spinner Near a Rock”, c1660, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1633/4–1712)

“The Spinner Near a Rock” (aka “Spinster bij een rots”), (BM’s attrib.) c1660 (1643–1706), after Nicolaes Berchem’s (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz.Berrighem) (1621/2–1683) painting that De Winter advises was destroyed by fine in 1864 (see Hollstein, p. 37). Originally published by Frederick de Wit (state ii), followed by Nicholaes Visscher (state iii) and finally by Pieter Schenk (state iv) before all publisher details were removed as shown in this impression (state v).

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

Size: (sheet) 36.2 x 46.3 cm; (image borderline) 33.4 x 45 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “^CBerghem pinxit./ J. Vißcher fecit."

State v (of v) with removal of publisher details.

Hollstein Dutch 45v (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Johannes Visscher to Robert van Voerst”, vol. XLI, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 37, cat. no. 45]; De Winter 61.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “A roadway with a reclining shepherd couple with their flock of sheep on the wayside at right; the shepherdess spinning wool; on the road a youth saddles or loads a horse and talks with a small boy behind him … after Nicolaes Berchem/ Engraving and etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1840-0314-168).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.191437.

Condition: a very strong and well-printed impression with small margins around the image borderline. Beyond several small marks in the margin, the sheet is in an excellent condition.

I am selling this large engraving (with etching) showing a fascinating view of country life during the Dutch Golden Age—note the focus on the relaxed lifestyle of contented folk and animals relaxing in the sun and, importantly, how the towering rockface and billowing distant cloud seems to make them seem small and possibly even vulnerable in their setting—for the total cost of AU$298 (currently US$207.56/EUR207.66/GBP175.87 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 magnificent engraving glowing with strong darks and showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Johannes Visscher’s engraving with etching, “Aurora”, c1670, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1633/4–1712)

“Aurora” (aka “Ochtend”; “Dawn”), c1670 (1645–1701), plate 1 from the series of four plates by Visscher (Hollstein 1–4), “Times of Day” (aka “De vier delen van de dag”; “The Four Parts of the Day”), after Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz.Berrighem) (1621/2–1683), published by Justus Danckertsz (aka Justus Danckerts; Justus Danckers; Justus Dankerts) (1635–1701).

Engraving and etching on laid paper trimmed unevenly with a small margin around the image borderline, with partial loss of the text lines below the image borderline (viz. the title and Visscher’s name), backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31.4 x 37.9 cm; (image borderline) 30.1 x 36.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Berghem inventor.”; (right) “Justus Danckerts Excudit."

State ii (of ii).

Hollstein Dutch 1-II(2) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Johannes Visscher to Robert van Voerst”, vol XLI, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 8, cat. no. 1 [II]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Dawn; a peasant saddles his donkey with a bell around its neck with a horned cow standing nearby; at left a blacksmith struggles to put a shoe on the hind foot of a donkey watched by a peasant woman carrying her child; after Nicolaes Berchem” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1870-0709-256 &

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1839-0413-263).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.319641.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins around the image borderline and loss of some of the text lines. The sheet has been laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There are fractures/small tears to the lower edge of the sheet, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition for its considerable age with no significant stains.

I am selling this large engraving (with etching) showing a fascinating view of rural life during the Dutch Golden Age—note for example, how the child on the far left plays with a spinning top; how an untethered donkey is shod or has its hoof scraped; how a donkey is saddled with a bell around its neck—for the total cost of AU$294 (currently US$218.30/EUR188.08/GBP158.75 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 finely rendered light dappled scene, 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 

Johannes Visscher's etching, “Sleeping Shepherd and Shepherdess by a Tree”, c.1675, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1636–after1692)

“Sleeping Shepherd and Shepherdess by a Tree” (aka “Sleeping Herd and Woman at the Foot of a Tree” [Hollstein’s title]) c.1675 (1643–1706), after the design by the intermediary draughtsman, Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz. Berrighem) (1621/22–1683), published by Frederik de Wit (1629/30 - 1706) in Amsterdam. Note that there is a significant loss to the right side of the image.

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed significantly within the image borderline on the right and with a narrow border around the borderline on the remaining sides with loss of the writing edge, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 35 x 35.5 cm.

State ii? (of iv) I have attributed this impression to state ii as there is the smallest remnants of the upper ascenders of text on the lower left signifying this state. The strength of the line also suggests an early impression. I am unable to clarify if this impression is from a later state as the address of Visscher (state iii) or the erasure of this address (state iv) has been trimmed off.

Hollstein Dutch 46–2(4) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Johannes (de) Visscher to Robert van Voerst”, vol. 41 [XLI), Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 38, cat. no. 46); Wessely 78; Nagler 37; Le Blanc 72; De Winter 60.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “While two cows, a sheep and a donkey drink from shallow water, a shepherd and a shepherdess are napping under a tree”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.515192).

Condition: richly inked and well-printed strong impression trimmed well within the right margin (i.e. there is a significant loss to this side) and with loss of the writing line. Beyond a faint stain in the uppermost cloud, the sheet is in very good condition and is laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this strong etching (with engraving) with a large loss to the right side of the image for AU$233 in total (currently US$153.56/EUR141.16/GBP118.15 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 17^th century rural scene featuring a shepherd dozing beside his lunch basket—a sure sign of postprandial somnolence—and his lady companion who reads while their flock water themselves at a ford, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.