Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case EO, Shelf 12

Monilium Bullarum Inauriumque Artificiocissimae Icones

Print
1581 (published)
Artist/Maker
Hans Collaert (designer)
Hans Collaert (engraver)
Philips Galle (publisher)
Place of origin
Antwerp (made)

After Hans Collaert’s death in 1580, his sons and publisher, Philips Galle, produced two more sets of engravings after his designs for jewellery. This is the first one published in 1581, and is comprised of ten prints including the title page. Each pendant is executed with delicate strapwork on a dark field, topped with a delicate ribbon design and hung with three pearls. Each except for the last two is also set with a mythological figure. The title page of the series shows two sleeping cherubs with skulls, and above them a nude figure which seems to be transported heavenward. Such details may have been added in response to the death of the designer.


Object details

Category
Ornament Prints
Object type
Print
TitleMonilium Bullarum Inauriumque Artificiocissimae Icones (series title)
Materials and techniques
engraving
Brief description
Hans Collaert (after), plate from a suite of ten, including title plate, showing designs for pendants entitled 'Monilium Bullarum Inauriumque Artificiocissimae Icones'. Flemish, 1581.
Physical description
Strapwork ornament topped with a jewel and decorated with nude figures and pearls.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.4cm (cut to)
  • Width: 13.8cm (cut to)
Marks and inscriptions
  • MOIL: | IUM | BULLARUM, INAURIUMQUE | ARTIFICIOCISSIMAE ICONES. | IOANNIS COLLAERT OPUS POSTREMUM.| 1581 (located in the cartouche; the series was published posthumously giving rise to the note about the designer's final work)
    Translation
    "Designs for necklaces, pendants and earrings of the highest skill. The final work by Joannis Collaert. 1581"
  • "Cum privilegio PHILIPPUS GALLEUS EXCUDEBAT" (at the bottom )
Subjects depicted
Cherubs
Skulls
Snails
Moths
Summary
After Hans Collaert’s death in 1580, his sons and publisher, Philips Galle, produced two more sets of engravings after his designs for jewellery. This is the first one published in 1581, and is comprised of ten prints including the title page. Each pendant is executed with delicate strapwork on a dark field, topped with a delicate ribbon design and hung with three pearls. Each except for the last two is also set with a mythological figure. The title page of the series shows two sleeping cherubs with skulls, and above them a nude figure which seems to be transported heavenward. Such details may have been added in response to the death of the designer.
Bibliographic references
  • Hollstein, F.W.H., Ann Diels, Marjolein Leesberg, Arnout Balis, and Collaert. The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700 The Collaert Dynasty / comp. by Ann Diels and Marjolein Leesberg ; ed. by Marjolein Leesberg and Arnout Balis. The New Hollstein Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, 1450-1700. Ouderkerk aan den IJssel: Sound & Vision Publishers, 2005, no.1644.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1912, London, Printed for His Majesty’s Stationery Office 1913
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.877-1912

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O720385/monilium-bullarum-inauriumque-artificiocissimae-icones-print-hans-collaert/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest