Archive for April, 2025

The Life of the Virgin – six engravings

Monday, April 7th, 2025

Hendrik Goltzius (1558-1617). “The Life of the Virgin”. Each signed with the monogram in the plate. The complete set of six engravings, on laid paper, each S. approximately 49.0×37.0 cm.
Bartsch 15-20; Hollstein 9-14. 1593-1594.

”The Annunciation” from the second state, of five, on laid paper with a six-pointed star in a circle watermark. “The Visitation” from the third state, of five. “The Adoration of the Shepherds” from the third state, of five, on laid paper with a small pointed star in a diamond shape in a circle watermark. “The Circumcision” from the third state, of five, on laid paper with a six-pointed star in a circle watermark. “The Adoration of the Magi” from the second state, of five, on laid paper with a small pointed star in a diamond shape in a circle watermark. “The Holy Family” from the third state, of five, on laid paper with a six-pointed star in a circle watermark.

Currently on reserve.

PROVENANCE
Dr. C. Axel Wistrand (Sweden 1866-1956), each with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 2630a); The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).





Christ Nailed to the Cross

Monday, April 7th, 2025

Giulio Romano (Italy circa 1499-1546). “Christ Nailed to the Cross” (after), engraved by Ferdinando Bertelli (born 1525). Signed f. Bertelli f. and IV RO IN in the plate. Engraving on laid paper, with the letter C in a double circle with a cross watermark, S. 30.0×43.5 cm.
Meyer 5; Nagler 3. Circa 1540-1550.

PROVENANCE
The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).

Tityus

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italy 1475-1564) (after), by Nicolas Beatrizet, France and Italy (1507-1565). Tityus. Signed MICH A.B. INVENT in the plate. Engraving on laid paper, with an anchor or fleur-de-lys in a circle watermark, S. 28.6×37.1 cm.
Bartsch 39, an early impression with the guidelines for the text in the lower margin and the vertical wiping marks distinct, as published by Salamanca. Circa 1540-1566.This engraving is based on Michelangelo’s drawing of the same subject in the Royal Collection, Windsor (Inventory number RCIN 912771).

PROVENANCE
Josef Viktor Kuderna (Austria 1886-1952), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 1626a); The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).

In a myth recounted in Ovids Metamorphoses, the giant Tityus was punished for attempting to rape Lato, mother of Apollo and Diana, by being chained to a rock in Hades. Every day a vulture would rip out his liver, the seat of lust; every night the liver would grow back, for the torment to be repeated the next day, for all eternity.

Tityus

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Nicolas Beatrizet,France and Italy 1507-1565. After Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italy 1475-1564). Tityus. Signed MICH A.B. INVENT in the plate. Engraving on laid paper, with an anchor or fleur-de-lys in a circle watermark, S. 28.6×37.1 cm.
Bartsch 39, an early impression with the guidelines for the text in the lower margin and the vertical wiping marks distinct, as published by Salamanca. Circa 1540-1566.This engraving is based on Michelangelo’s drawing of the same subject in the Royal Collection, Windsor (Inventory number RCIN 912771).

PROVENANCE
Josef Viktor Kuderna (Austria 1886-1952), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 1626a); The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).

In a myth recounted in Ovids Metamorphoses, the giant Tityus was punished for attempting to rape Lato, mother of Apollo and Diana, by being chained to a rock in Hades. Every day a vulture would rip out his liver, the seat of lust; every night the liver would grow back, for the torment to be repeated the next day, for all eternity.

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Francesco Salviati (Italy 1510-1563) (after), by Nicolas Beatrizet France and Italy (1507-1565). “The Sacrifice of Iphigenia”. Signed N. BEATRIZET LOTARINGVS F. in the plate. Engraving on laid paper, with a shield with the letter M and a six-pointed star watermark, S. 33.2 x 44.8 cm.

Bartsch 43 from the first state, of two, with the address of the publisher Tramezini. 1553.

Provenance
The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).

In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Mycenae. In the story, Agamemnon offends the goddess Artemis on his way to the Trojan War by hunting and killing one of Artemis’s sacred stags. She retaliates by preventing the Greek troops from reaching Troy unless Agamemnon kills his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, at Aulis as a human sacrifice. In some versions, Iphigenia dies at Aulis, and in others, Artemis rescues her.

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Nicolas Beatrizet,France and Italy (1507-1565). After Francesco Salviati (Italy 1510-1563). Signed N. BEATRIZET LOTARINGVS F. in the plate. Engraving on laid paper, with a shield with the letter M and a six-pointed star watermark, S. 33.2×44.8 cm.
Bartsch 43 from the first state, of two, with the address of the publisher Tramezini. 1553.

PROVENANCE
The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).

In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Mycenae. In the story, Agamemnon offends the goddess Artemis on his way to the Trojan War by hunting and killing one of Artemis’s sacred stags. She retaliates by preventing the Greek troops from reaching Troy unless Agamemnon kills his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, at Aulis as a human sacrifice. In some versions, Iphigenia dies at Aulis, and in others, Artemis rescues her.

The Battle with a Shield on a Lance

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Italy 1483-1520) (after), by Gian Giacomo CaraglioItaly 1505-1565. The Battle with a Shield on a Lance. Signed I IACOBVS VER F in the plate. Engraving on blue laid paper, with an indiscernible watermark, S. 33.0×48.3 cm, remargined.
Bartsch 59. Circa 1527.

PROVENANCE
Johann Andreas Boerner (Germany 1785-1862), with the inscription and dated 1831 in ink verso (Lugt 270); Karl Ewald Hasse (Germany 1810-1902), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 860); The collection of Engineer and Major Frank Bensow (1883-1969), with the ink stamp verso (Lugt 982c).