St. James Major
Engraving
after 1510 (made)
after 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 | |
Titles |
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Materials and techniques | Engraving in ink on paper |
Brief description | Engraving, St. James Major, from the series of fourteen prints of Christ and the Apostles, copy after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz). |
Physical description | St James stands facing left. He holds a staff, tied to the top of which is a bag. He has a large halo, long straggly hair and beard and holds a hat in his left hand. He wears a cloak over a long coat and three-quarter length tunic. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Copy |
Marks and inscriptions | L (Artist initial inscribed on plate, bottom left) |
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. |
Associated objects |
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Bibliographic references |
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Other number | Bartsch 91 |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.817-1885 |
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Record created | December 22, 2008 |
Record URL |
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