Suite of six allegorical prints. France, c. 1560-1570.

£1,500 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

A rare collection of allegorical engravings by the skilled French mannerist engraver Étienne Delaune, taken from three of his suites of plates. The first three are classical figures; the next two are taken from his series illustrating the liberal arts and sciences - here Aritmetique and Astronomie (with title removed); the last is the “Sacrifice of Abraham” from his Old Testament series. The common factor in all the prints is the exquisite execution of the mannerist borders and, as has often been noted, in his prints he shows a precision and intricacy associated with his original profession as a goldsmith. There is an emblematic quality to each illustration, with each figure or, as in the final engraving, scene, surrounded not only with related objects, but symbols that require interpretation. The figure of Astronomy, for example, on the fifth leaf, holds an astrolabe and is surrounded by a celestial sphere, a compass, a sextant and a carpenter’s square, but also winged snails and two overflowing ewers. The snails ‘likely symbolise the opposition between fast and slow in the learning process of the sciences. The idea of moderation is also present in the print, represented by two ewers with their contents overflowing, usually a symbol of temperance, prudency and patience’ (see Met Museum catalogue description for Astronomy; open access). In collaboration with his son Jean, Étienne produced a series of more explicitly emblematic plates in 1580, The Pleasures of the World, in pr

• Year: 1570

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