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St. James Major

Engraving
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
  • St. James Major (generic title)
  • Christ and the Apostles (series title)
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
  • Cut to height: 12.9cm
  • Cut to width: 8.3cm
  • Platemark height: 11.7cm
  • Platemark width: 7.25cm
  • Card backing height: 28.2cm
  • Card backing width: 23.1cm
Style
Production typeCopy
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
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 91
Collection
Accession number
E.817-1885

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Record createdDecember 22, 2008
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