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Engraving

1510 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Engraving in ink on paper
Brief description
Engraving of Adam and Eve after the expulsion of Paradise, Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz); 1510.
Physical description
Adam and Eve, now clothed, leave paradise. Adam is elderly with a white beard and long hair and is carrying a spade. Eve, also with long flowing hair, is carrying a baby. Adam wears animal skin, whereas Eve has a draping long dress, which is rendered with folds in the 'spiky' gothic mannner. There is a pollarded tree to the right and the ground is generally rocky with small clumps of grass and foliage. A small plaque lower right has the artist's monogram and date.
Dimensions
  • Max, cropped sheet height: 16.1cm
  • Max, cropped sheet width: 12.1cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
L 1510 (On plaque in image lower right)
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceGenesis 3:8-24
Summary
Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter.
Associated object
E.755-1885 (Copy)
Bibliographic references
  • Bartsch, Adam von. Le Peintre Graveur. Leipzig, J.A. Barth, 1854-1876.
  • The New Hollstein: Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700. Roosendaal. Koninklijke Van Poll in cooperation with the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1993-
  • Cornelis, Bart and Jan Piet Filedt Kok. The taste for Lucas van Leyden prints. In: Simiolus - Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art. 26: 1/2 (1998).
Other number
Bartsch 11
Collection
Accession number
28920A

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Record createdSeptember 18, 2008
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