Jan Van de Velde II (1593-1641) Lot n° 133

Jan vd Velde (1593-1641) - The four elements -Willem Buytewech Jan van de Velde made his Four elements after designs by Buytewech. They represent the final stage in the development of the theme and differ from earlier works chiefly in the amount of space reserved for the landscapes. Van de Velde had a preference for a mixed media technique, and in the Elements he used both the burin and the etching needle. Van de Velde's mastery is particularly apparent in the superb sheets of earth and fire.----- Complete series of 4 etchings after W. BUYTEWECH, monogram "WB" and "J. v. Velde fec.[or: fecit]" in the margin 19,00 x 28,50 cm each All etchings trimmed to/ on the border line (occas. touching the lower end of the flourishes of the letters of captions below image) and with tiny restored spot in lower left blank corner ("Ignis" sl. bigger restoration, also just touching lower and upper corner of image); first print with small restored spot between "fec" and "excudebat", slender tear in caption below "excudebat"; third etching lower left blank corner of caption strip restored. As a whole a very agreeable set. Hollstein 18-21. First etching 3rd or 4th state (of 4); the second etching 3rd state (of 3); the third etching 3rd state (of 5); the fourth etching the 3rd state (of 4).------------------------------------------------- De Jong/ Luijten, Mirror of everyday life 32, p.174-178