Wierix brothers Lot n° 46

NATALIS, Hieronymus, S.J. Evangelicae historiae imagines ex ordine Evangeliorum, quae toto anno in Missae sacrificio recitantur, in ordinem temporis vitae Christi digestae. Antwerp s.n. 1596 Sm. folio: engr. title-[8] ff.-153 pl. (marg. spotting, some min. soiling, sm. tear in bottom margin invading pl. 36 +/- 1 cm). Cont. Spanish (or Italian?) binding: blindruled & richly goldtooled red goatskin, gilt central oval shaped ornament, double giltruled border, richly gilt spine on 4 raised bands, clasps & catches, a.e.g. (rubbed, some scratches, some worming, sm. pieces of leather cut out and replaced on both covers, i.a. gilt central figure of a saint). Good copy. 2nd ed. of the famous and splendid suite (1st ed. 1593) of large and detailed Gospel illustrations, added to the liturgical Gospel commentary and meditations by the Spanish Jesuit Nadal (1507-1580), published by the Antwerp Jesuits. Engr. ills: title and 153 beautiful numbered plates (strong and clear impressions) showing scenes of the public life of Christ, most after the Roman painter Bernardo Passaro and a few after M. De Vos, and engr. by the Wierix brothers (and some by J. & A. Collaert, C. Mallery). Our copy has a preliminary quire containing a dedication to Pope Clement VIII, a "Lectori s.", the privilege of Clement VIII signed Vestrius Barbianus (14 August 1593) and an index to the pls. Ref. BT 6376. - DBS V:1518:1. - Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1989-2141. - Adams N-57. - Pettegree NB 22123. - STCV (1).