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Verus Crucis Triumphus Meditatio Mortis

Print
late 17th century (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Someone coloured this engraving by hand, which means that they painted over a black and white print with watercolour and 'gouache', or bodycolour (opaque watercolour). The colours used here are black, white, red, yellow, blue and turquoise. The criss-cross lines gouged into the printing plate by the engraver's burin are seen most clearly in the skull in the centre. Hand colouring can be done at the time a print is made and first goes on sale, or at any time in its later history. It is far more usual for woodcuts, aquatints or lithographs than engravings to be coloured by hand. The colouring on this engraving probably dates from when the print was new.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleVerus Crucis Triumphus Meditatio Mortis (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Engraving, coloured by hand, on paper
Brief description
Anonymous, French; Triumph of the Cross at the Thought of Death; late 17th century; engraving coloured by hand
Physical description
Verus Crucis Triumphus Meditatio Mortis. La triomphe de la Croiz dans la pensee de la mort.Lettered with the title in Latin and French and within the design Ne fluat hora caue/ Tiens toy sur tes gardes and Quod me alit, me extinguit/ Ce qui me faict vinnc, me fait mourir and Lis attentivement ce qui est dans ce livre/ Frequente tous les joursl'eschole de la Croix/ Du dernier Jugemnet apprehende les loix/ Et au pointe de la mort on te verra reunire/ Nosce te ipsum/ La connaissance de Loy mesme. Late 17th century.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.5cm
  • Width: 32cm
.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Someone coloured this engraving by hand, which means that they painted over a black and white print with watercolour and 'gouache', or bodycolour (opaque watercolour). The colours used here are black, white, red, yellow, blue and turquoise. The criss-cross lines gouged into the printing plate by the engraver's burin are seen most clearly in the skull in the centre. Hand colouring can be done at the time a print is made and first goes on sale, or at any time in its later history. It is far more usual for woodcuts, aquatints or lithographs than engravings to be coloured by hand. The colouring on this engraving probably dates from when the print was new.
Bibliographic reference
Lambert, Susan. Prints : Art and Techniques. London : V&A Publications, 2001. p 8 : ill.
Collection
Accession number
E.31-1987

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Record createdJuly 27, 2000
Record URL
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