Lucas Vorsterman, “The Lamentation”, c. 1634, after Anthony van Dyck

Lucas Vorsterman I (also known as Lucas Aemilius Vorsterman) (1595–1675)

“The Lamentation”, circa 1634

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on laid paper featuring a grapes watermark (commonly found in Antwerp workshop printings from the 1630s), with thread margins surrounding the image border. This is an exceptionally rare lifetime impression from the first state (of five), prior to the addition of the production details in the second state. 

The composition is after the 1634 painting by Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641) housed in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, inv.no.606. A highly finished grisaille preparatory work attributed to Vorsterman is also in Munich, inv.no.67. 

The impression is superb: richly and evenly inked, with crisp detail. Aside from minor restoration of small tears (visible only upon close inspection), the sheet remains in good condition for its age, with minor foxing in the lower left corner. The sheet has been stabilised and backed with a supportive, archival-quality washi paper, which also provides wide (false) margins suitable for framing. 

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 32.2 x 44.5 cm
• Image borderline: 32 x 44.3 cm

References:

• Hymans 35–1 (Henri Hymans, “Lucas Vorsterman, 1595–1675, et son Oeuvre Gravé”, 1972, Amsterdam G. W. Hissink & Co., p. 82, cat. no. 35–1)
• Hollstein Dutch 32.I; New Hollstein Dutch 539.I
• Carl Depauw & Ger Luiten, “Anthony van Dyck as a Printmaker”, 1999, New York, Rizzoli, pp. 263–66, cat. no. 36
• British Museum: Museum number 1868,0822.891 (State II) — https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1863-0214-743
• Rijksmuseum: Object number RP-P-OB-33.017 — https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200271406

Price & Shipping:

AU$653 (approximately US$467.60 / €403.07 / £345.26, subject to daily exchange rates). Price includes worldwide express shipping. Please note that destination import duties and local taxes remain the sole responsibility of the buyer.

If you’re interested in acquiring this spectacular first state lifetime impression of a masterwork engraving by Vorsterman, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’ll gladly provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless transaction.

Francesco Polanzani’s etching, “Portrait of Cornelis de Vos”, c.1740, after Vorsterman and Van Dyck

Francesco Polanzani (aka Felice Polanzani) (1700–c.1783)

“Portrait of Cornelis de Vos”, c.1740 (1720–1760), plate 11 from the series of 13 plates, “Icones aliquot...:  A. van Dyck.” (LeBlanc title) (aka “Portraits after Anthony van Dyck”), after a section of Lucas Vorsterman I’s (aka Lucas Aemilius Vorsterman) (1595–1675) engraving, “Cornelius de Vos” (1630–1645) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_R-1b-91), after the design by Anthony van Dyck (aka Anthoni [Ridder] van Dijck; Anthony van Dijck; Antoon van Dijk; Anton van Dyck) (1599–1641).

Inscribed in plate: (lower right edge in small letters) “A. van D[yc]k Pi. [F.] Polanzani Sc.”

LeBlanc 30-42 (Charles Le Blanc 1888, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 3, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 225, cat. nos. 30–42); New Hollstein 98 (Simon Turner [comp.] 2002, “The New Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Anthony van Dyck”, vol. 1, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision, cat. no. 98).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Portrait of Cornelis de Vos, half-length turned slightly to the right but looking towards the viewer, with short hair, beard and moustache, wearing a high collar; after Lucas Vorsterman who engraved after Anthony van Dyck/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_R-1b-96).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression and wide margins in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this startlingly fine head study after Lucas Vorsterman’s engraving of the whole figure of Cornelis de Vos (1584–1651)—a leading portrait painter in Antwerp at the time—and, in turn, after the initial design by Van Dyck, for the total cost of AU$237 (currently US$158.48/EUR144.49/GBP124.25 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 superb etching executed with amazing sensitivity and skill, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Lucas Vorsterman I's engraving, “Adoration of the Shepherds”, 1620, after Rubens

Lucas Vorsterman I (aka Lucas Aemilius Vorsterman) (1595–1675)

“Adoration of the Shepherds” (aka “Aanbidding der herders”), 1620, after Peter Paul Rubens’ (aka Petrus Paulus Rubenius) (1577–1640) painting in the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Rouen) with a Latin dedication in lower margin by Rubens to Pieter Peck the younger (1562–1625)—a diplomat and chancellor of Brabant for the Sovereign Archdukes Albert and Isabella (according to Wikipedia), published by Lucas Vorsterman I in Antwerp. This is a later impression.

The Curator of the British Museum offers the following insights about this print:

“After the painting by Rubens in Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen, inv.no.D.803-6 (Rooses 150). A drawing retouched by Rubens is in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, inv.no.20.309. The copperplate is in Antwerp.” (BM No. R,3.39)

Engraving on heavy buff-coloured wove paper, trimmed with small margins (approx. 1.5. cm) around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 61.4 x 47.5 cm; (plate) 58.7 x 44.7 cm; (image borderline) 57.5 x 44.2 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline (left) “NOBILISSIMO ET AMPLISSIMO ... RVBENVS DEDICAT CONSERCRATQVE. / P.P.Rubens pinxit.”; (centre) “Cum priuilegÿs, Regis Christianissimi, Principum Belgarum, & Ordinum Batauiæ.”; (right) “Lucas Vorsterman sculp. et excud. An.1620."

Hollstein 6 (Vorsterman) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] & D. de Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1993, “Hollstein's Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings & Woodcuts, 1450–1700: Lucas Vorsterman I”, vol. 43, Amsterdam, p. 14, cat.no. 6); Schneevoogt 1873 15.23 (C G Voorhelm Schneevoogt 1873, “Catalogue des estampes gravées d'après P.P.Rubens”, Haarlem, p. 15, cat.no. 23).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Adoration of the shepherds with nine figures, called 'with the spider'; four shepherds and two women (one holds a basket) gaze at the Christ child lying in a manger; after Peter Paul Rubens. 1620 Engraving”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1631202&partId=1&people=103948&peoA=103948-2-60&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the Rijksmuseum:

(transl.) “adoration of the Christ-child by the shepherds; Mary and Joseph present”

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.338265

Condition: well-printed faultless but slightly dull later impression with small margins and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in museum quality/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or significant signs of use).

I am selling this very large engraved masterwork by one of the most famous and accomplished printmakers who collaborated with Rubens (until they had an major argument and parted), for AU$525 (currently US$359.39/EUR325.68/GBP292.73 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 major engraving from the Baroque period, 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

Lucas Vorsterman's engraving, “Adoration of the Magi”, 1602, after Rubens

Lucas Vorsterman I (aka Lucas Aemilius Vorsterman) (1595–1675)

“Adoration of the Magi” (aka “Adoration with the Torches”), 1620, after Peter Paul Rubens’ (aka Petrus Paulus Rubenius) (1577–1640) painting in the Church of St John, Malines and the modello drawing in the Cabinet du Dessins, Musée du Louvre (Paris) with a Latin dedication by Rubens to Albert, Archduke of Austria, published by Lucas Vorsterman I in Antwerp. This is a later impression.

Note that there is a very close copy of Vorsterman’s engraving by Pieter Nolpe (1613/14–c1652/3) but this copy can be easily distinguished from Vorsterman’s print by the production detail, “Peter Nolpe fecit”, and the lighter tone of the keystone illuminated in the archway above the Holy Family (see Nolpe’s engraving at the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1631634&partId=1&searchText=vorsterman+adoration+&page=1).

Engraving on heavy wove paper, trimmed with small margins around the plate mark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 61.7 x 46.8 cm; (plate) 59.1 x 44.5 cm; (image borderline) 58 x 43.9 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline (left) “SERENISSIMO … CONSECRATOVE. / P.P.Rubens pinxit.”; (centre) “Cum priuilegÿs, Regis Christianissimi, Principum Belgarum, & Ordinum Batauiæ.”; (right) “Lucas Vorsterman sculp. et excud. An.1620."

Schneevoogt 1873 22.84 (C G Voorhelm Schneevoogt 1873, “Catalogue des estampes gravées d'après P.P.Rubens”, Haarlem, p. 22, cat. no. 84); Dutuit.VI.54.44 (Eugène Dutuit 1884, ”Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes”, Paris); Hollstein 8 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] & D. de Hoop Scheffer [ed.] 1993, “Hollstein's Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings & Woodcuts, 1450–1700: Lucas Vorsterman I”, vol. 43, Amsterdam, p. 16, cat.no. 8).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Adoration of the Magi; the Holy Family at right; the Christ child delves His hand into a vessel offered by one of the reverential Magi; the turbaned magi holds open a precious casket and the other holds a censer; behind them a crowd of figures strain for a better view; in the background by some columns two figures bear torches; after Peter Paul Rubens. 1620 Engraving”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3082620&partId=1&searchText=vorsterman+adoration+&page=1)

See also the description at the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.338266

Condition: well-printed faultless but slightly dull later impression with small margins and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in museum quality/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or significant signs of use).

I am selling this very large engraved masterwork by one of the most famous and accomplished printmakers who collaborated with Rubens (until they had an major argument and parted), for AU$525 (currently US$360.87/EUR323.52/GBP285.28 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 major engraving of the Baroque period, 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