Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) Lot n° 31

Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) - S. Francis receiving a palm from Child Jesus / Description: A very rare first state only known from one impression: Saint Francis of Assisi receiving a palm from the hands of the child Jesus. Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) after Denys Calvaert (Antwerp 1540-1619, working in Italy). ;Alvin mentions that only one copy is known to be in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, but that this print could not be found in their collection. Maquoy Hendrickx does not know any print in this first state and therefore only mentions Alvin's reference. Our print bears the collection marks of Duke D'Arenberg (oval collection stamp = L.567, ) and Antwerp hand (L.2794 anonymous Belgian collection from the middle of the 19th century) so this is most probably not the one that was in the MET but the second one known, the only one still traced. In the second state there was a cartouche at the bottom with text and signature of the publisher/engraver. Here this text is written in gold ink. So it is very close to the creation of the work. A larger important print from the uppermost rarity. / Dimensions: 29,20 x 19,00 CM / Condition: A good early impression trimmed outside the image borderline, just inside bottom left. Some horizontal creases with paper weakness in the upper part. Flattened middle fold. On a dense watermarked laid paper from the period. Two collection stamps on the backside. / Literature: Duke D'Arenberg (oval collection stamp = L.567, ) and Antwerp hand (L.2794 anonymous Belgian collection from the middle of the 19th century) / Medium: Engraving /Circa: before 1619