Hendrik Goltzius (1558-1617), Jan van Suren at Age 71, engraving, 1590 (given by Strauss, although dated 1588), after a painting by Martin Van Heemskerck.References: Hollstein, Strauss 282, Bartsch 189. Third state (of 3) [with initals in the plate, titled and inscribed].  In very good condition, on an old laid paper with small margins, 6 1/2 x 4 1/4, the sheet 7 x 4 5/8 inches, archival mounting with window mat.

A very fine impression, printed in exquisite detail.

Provenance: ex Collection Calamatta, as indicated with tiny C stamp recto lower right, and in graphite verso. Hollstein cites this impression as sold in 1947, Sale 44, Gutekunst and Klipstein (Switzerland).

The first state of the print is before letters, the second wth letters and the artist’s monogram; in this, the third state, Goltzius added the coat of arms upper right.

Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617), engraving, 1593 [with extensive inscription in the plate]. Reference: Bartsch 161, Hollstein 177, second state (of two). In very good condition (old hinges verso, horizontal centerfold visible verso), trimmed outside of the borderline, 10 7/16 x 7 5/16 inches, archival mounting.

A very good, balanced impression, with exquisite detailing.

This portrait of Bol was taken in the last year of his life, when he was 58. According to the inscription it is dedicated to Bol’s stepson Frans Bol. The skull with the upside-down torches indicates that this engraving was made by Goltzius after Bol died, and thus is based on a drawing.

Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617), The Banquet at the House of Tarquinius, or The Banquet of Turquinius Collatinus, engraving, c. 1578. References: Bartsch 104, Hirschmann 171, Strauss 17, only state. First of the series (of 4) The History of Lucretia.  In very good condition (tiny printer’s creases at bottom edge away from image), with thread margins on old laid paper with part of a Gothic P watermark, 8 1/8 x 9 1/8 inches, archival mounting.

A fine impression of this brilliant, complex masterpiece.

Art historian Carl Van Mander particularly admired this engraving, especially because Goltzius -contrary to custom - clothed his figures in modern (16th C) Netherlandish costume.

During the siege of the city of Ardea by the Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus two of his sons and his nephew Collatinus, with some downtime to spare, returned to Rome with the idea of paying a surprise visit to their wives. They found the wives at a banquet but Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus was at home; later one of the men (Sextus) raped her.