| Method | Copper engraving |
| Artist | Robert Boissard |
| Published | [Theodor de Bry, Frankfurt am Main, 1597] |
| Dimensions | Image 138 x 105 mm, Sheet 139 x 107 mm |
| Notes |
A half-length portrait of Hadrianus Junius, turned slightly to the right, looking down and concentrating on the piece paper he is writing on with a quill pen, his right hand holding an ink well. He is depicted wearing a cloth cap and fur trimmed coat, set within a stone columns with his name and title above and decorative scroll work in the corners. Likely to be from the first publishing of Jean Jacques Boissard's "Icones virorum illustrium doctrina" from 1557, which was later reused in his "Bibliotheca chalcographica" from 1669. Both books contained portraits of notable men, and were composted in collaboration with Robert Boissard, Theodor de Bry and Johann Theodor de Bry. Inscribed in the bottom right corner of image: 'Nasc. Hornae a.o' [blank] 'ob.' [blank] 'a.o' [blank] Artist's monogram at centre right: "Br" Below image two lines of text read: 'Invidiam vincis studio probitate labore' / 'Gratia nunc merits reddita digna tuis.' (You conquer envy with diligence honesty and hard work / Grace now merits returns worthy of you.) Hadrianus Junius (1511–1575), also known as Adriaen de Jonghe, was a Dutch physician and author. He lived in Haarlem but also worked in Copenhagen, and England. Junius was dubbed a 'second Erasmus' by some of his contemporaries, but his scope was more limited, despite being a classical scholar, translator, lexicographer, antiquarian, historiographer, emblematist, school rector, and Latin poet. Robert Boissard (c. 1570-1611) was a French engraver, active in Elzas-Lotharingen. Little is known about Boissard, other than that he was related to Jean Jacques Boissard (c. 1528-1602), with whom he worked on several series. Robert specialised in detailed portraits, but also produced allegorical prints and the playful "Masquerade" series, depicting costumed couples. Theodor de Bry (1528-1598) was a Flemish-born engraver and editor, who travelled Europe. De Bry fled from Liège in fear of the Spanish persecution of Protestants, lived in Strasbourg, travelled to Antwerp, then London, and finally settled in Frankfurt-am-Main, where he started a publishing business and printing workshop. Jean Jacques Boissard (c. 1528-1602) was a French painter, writer and antiquarian. He was mainly active in Metz, but travelled starting from Rome throughout Europe and even the Middle-East. He often collaborated with his relation Robert Boissard, as well as his friend Theodor de Bry and others, mostly providing text and occasionally drawings for publications. Condition: Trimmed just outside of the boarder and tipped to album page. Text on verso as issued. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £75.00 |
| Stock ID | 52585 |