Images of Celebrated Women of the New Testament
Maarten de Vos (1532-1603) (after), engravings c. 1597, Images of Celebrated Women of the New Testament. The complete set of 15 engravings after Maarten de Vos, engraved by Adrien Collaert (Antwerp, c. 1560-1618), Karel de Mallery (c, 1576-after 1631), and Jan II Collaert (Antwerp, 1561/62-1620). References: New Hollstein 424 et seq. (for Collaert); Hollstein 33 (Mallery), third states (of 3). In generally good condition, with full margins (plate 9 with a water stain mostly in margin, slight soiling in some margins), 6 x 3 5/8, the sheets 10 1/4 x 8 3/8 inches.
Good impressions, lightly printed on thin laid paper, some with a (partial) Strasbourg Lily watermark. A uniform set, probably later impressions.
The set starts with The Virgin Mary; then includes St. Anna (Mother of The Virgin); Elizabeth, wife of Zacherias; Anna Prophetissa; the Samaritan woman; the Adulturous Woman; Woman from Canaan; Martha; Maria Salome; Tabitha; Lydia (seller of the purple cloth); Maria Jacobi; Mary Magdalene.
Maarten de Vos, born in Antwerp, studied in Italy with Tinteretto among others, then returned to Antwerp as a highly successful Mannerist painter; he made some prints but more often created drawings for other engravers, including the Collaerts and Mallery.
Those interested in images of women in Renaissance printmaking are advised to see the website of Andy Weiner and Sonja Hansard-Weiner of Spaightwood Galleries for their extensive discussions of various images and artists in addition to de Vos; I’m personally indebted to them for clarifying many of the issues regarding this set of engravings.
