Description
This print shows hermit saint Beatus in the hills in front of his cave praying for Jesus on the cross. Buildings on the backside. Below him a dragonlike animal. Text below in latin. Plate 1 in the series. St Beatus’ life, legend suggests that he was either born in Ireland or was the son of a Scottish king and was baptised by St Barnabas and ordained as a priest by the apostle, St Peter. He spent his later life as an anchorite hermit (i.e. a recluse who had withdrawn to a fully Eucharist-focused life as a living saint) in a cave on Mount Beatenberg near the lake of Thoune in Switzerland and slew a local dragon that was distracting him from his religious contemplation.
Made by Johannes Sadeler after Maerten de Vos.
Medium: Engraving on hand laid (verge), attached to a carrier sheet paper.
Sheet size: 21 x 17 cm (8.27 x 6.69 inch). Image size: 21 x 17 cm. (8.27 x 6.69 inch).
Condition: good, given age. No margins. Mounted on paper. Remains of paper tape on reverse. Smudges. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.
HERMIT-BEATUS-SAINT-BOOKS-HILLS-BIBLE-RELIGION-DRAGON-CAVE-SWITZERLAND | RBOS-A10-05
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This attractive print was published in the series ‘Oraculum Anachoreticum’ (aka ‘Hermits’), published by Jan Sadeler in Venice with privilege from Rudolf II of Habsburg, 1600.
Reference: TIB 7001.409S2 (Isabelle de Ramaix 2001, ‘The Illustrated Bartsch: Johan Sadeler I’, vol. 70, Part 2 [Supplement], New York, Abaris Books, p. 276, cat. no. 409); Hollstein 439; Hollstein 1051 (Maarten de Vos).
Biography engraver: Johannes Sadeler (1550-1600).
Biography artist: Maerten de Vos (1532?1603). This prints from his lost drawing. Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) ‘Cu[m] priuil Su[m]mi/ Po[n]tif. et C?s. Mai.’; (lower centre) “Ioa[n] Sadeler scalp. Marti[n] de Vos figur.’.
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