Le Roi Fait Prosperer La France Alors Que L'Ignorance et Le Temps Detruisent Le Monde

Physical description

Print in which Henry II sits under a palm tree. Ignorance and Vice destroy the world

Place of Origin

France (made)

Date

c.1557 (made)

Artist/maker

Etienne Delaune, born 1514 - died 1583 (designed and engraved by)

Materials and Techniques

Engraving

Marks and inscriptions

Lower-right: 'S'

Dimensions

Height: 4.4 cm, Length: 4.9 cm

Object history note

The issue which is described by R-D has the lettering cum. pri. Regis below the exergue outside the composition. None of the impressions in the Collection have this lettering. In two cases the plates have been cut (R-D 140, 141, pls. 1 and 2 but in pls. 3, 4 and 5 there is room for the lettering. As all impressions are very good, an issue prior to R-D has been assumed. The plates are described in the order of R-D.

Descriptive line

Etienne Delaune, 1 of 5 plates from a suite of 9 entitled Allégories à La Gloire de Henri II. French, c.1557.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Robert Dumesnil, Le Peintre-Graveur Français, vol. XI, (1865), 144. Christophe Pollet, Les Gravures d'Etienne Delaune, (1518-1583), vol. I, (Villeneuve d'Asq: Presses universitaires du Septentrion, 2003), 35. Taken from departmental notes.
Christophe Pollet remarks that this suite of engravings could have been made to commemorate the Paix de Vaucelles, signed on 5th February 1556 between Henri II and Charles Quint.

The full text of the entry is as follows:

"ORNAMENT: FIGURE SUBJECTS
DELAUNE, Etienne (1518/19-1583
Original Plates, First Issue, before 1562?
000a
Etienne Delaune, engraver. Plates (5) from a set of 9 circular figure scenes emblematic of the glory of Henry II, King of France (prior to Berlin II 4513; prior to R-D 140, 141, 143, 144, 147).
Lettered s inside the round scene.
Engravings. 20123; 24276; 26447; 29849 B.15; E.2581, E.2582-1913
One plate in this set (not in collection) resembles the composition of a coin dated 1562 (R-D. citing Mariette, 142 footnote (1)).
The issue which is described by R-D has the lettering cum. pri. Regis below the exergue outside the composition. None of the impressions in the Collection have this lettering. In two cases the plates have been cut (R-D 140, 141, pls. 1 and 2 but in pls. 3, 4 and 5 there is room for the lettering. As all impressions are very good, an issue prior to R-D has been assumed. The plates are described in the order of R-D. [...]

(a) The king sits under a palm tree. Ignorance and Vice destroy the world (R-D 144). Lettered S at the bottom right under Ignorance's right leg. Image 26 x 26.
26447"
Robert-Dumesnil, A.P.F. Le Peinture-Graveur Français. Paris, 1835-71.

Production Note

It is possible the plates in this set were printed before 1562. One plate in this set (not in collection) resembles the composition of a coin dated 1562 (R-D. citing Mariette, 142 footnote (1)).

Techniques

Engraving

Subjects depicted

Palm tree; Henry II (King of France)

Categories

Prints; Ornament prints

Collection code

PDP