St. Anthony of Egypt
Engraving
after ca. 1521 (made)
after ca. 1521 (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 | |
Title | St. Anthony of Egypt (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Engraving in ink on paper |
Brief description | Engraving, St. Anthony of Egypt, copy after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz). |
Physical description | This engraving represents St. Anthony of Egypt, sometimes called The Hermit. He stands in a pigsty reading a book, which he holds in his left hand, and in his other hand is a walking stick. A pig is to his right, and has a collar with bell around its neck. Anthony has a bright halo behind his head. He wears a hooded cloak over a knee-length tunic, and has soft cloth boots. There is also a bell in the stall hanging from a post. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Copy |
Marks and inscriptions | L (Artist initial inscribed on plate, left centre) |
Production | dating of original from new Hollstein |
Subjects depicted | |
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. |
Bibliographic references |
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Other number | Bartsch 116 |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.809-1885 |
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Record created | September 24, 2008 |
Record URL |
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