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St. George Liberating the Princess

Print
ca. 1508 (made)
Artist/Maker

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
TitleSt. George Liberating the Princess (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving in ink on paper
Brief description
Engraving, St. George comforting the princess, Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz).
Physical description
The scene is set in a landscape setting with rocks and trees. In the background, St. George slays the dragon and the princess hides behind a rock. In the foreground, St.George comforts the princess, accompanied by a mounted knight in armour holding a standard and St. George's own horse. Between St. George and the princess is a lamb.
Dimensions
  • Cut to height: 16.1cm
  • Cut to width: 11.6cm
  • Mounted height: 53.1cm
  • Mounted width: 38cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
L (Artist initial inscribed on plate in square plaque on floor, bottom centre)
Object history
Salting Bequest, 4504
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
  • 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 numbers
  • Bartsch 121
  • 4504 - Salting Bequest
Collection
Accession number
E.4611-1910

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Record createdDecember 22, 2008
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