Antique Print-FRANCE-GREVELINGE-HORSES-CITY-PAS DE CALAIS-Guicciardini -1582

This print shows a view on the French city of Grevelingen, in Pas-de-Calais.

Made by an anonymous engraver after Ludovido Guicciardini .

Medium: Engraving on hand laid (verge) paper.

Sheet size: 36.2 x 31.2 cm (14.25 x 12.28 inch). Image size: 29.5 x 22.5 cm. (11.61 x 8.86 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Fold as published. Creases. Two paper tapes in upper margin. Some brown spots. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

FRANCE-GREVELINGE-HORSES-CITY-PAS DE CALAIS | RBOS-A10-28

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This print was published in the “Description of all the Netherlands”, also known as “Germania Inferior” or “Lower Germany”, published in Antwerp by Christoffel Plantijn in 1582.

Biography artist: Lodovico Guicciardini (1521-1589): Italian merchant from aristocratic descent. He was born in Florence, a son of Jacopo Guicciardini. His uncle was the famous author Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540) who wrote ‘La historia di Italia’. The Guicciardini family established a presence in Antwerp and in 1541 Lodovico arrived to work with his uncle. At the same time they functioned as informents for the Medici’s back home. He stayed until his death. At one point he was accused with his brother Giovan Battista of killing Gaspare Ducci, who they held resposible for their bancruptcy in 1543. Lodovico apparently started writing in 1552 and in 1556 he published his first work ‘Comentarii della……’, about European history. In 1567 he got the ‘Descrittione….’ published. He wrote a few more works. In 1569 he landed in jail because he critisized Alva’s policies. In 1582 he landed in jail again because he apparently knew Jean Jaureguy, who tried to kill William of Orange, but he was released soon. Although he had been prosperous at times he ended a poor man.