Provenance

Friedrich August, King of Saxony [1797-1854] (Lugt 971). (Helmut H. Rumbler, Frankfurt); purchased 2020 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1993

Inscriptions

lower left, in plate: HGoltzius Inuent. et excud.; lower left, in plate: Iohan Muller sculptor; within cartouche at bottom, in plate: Principio Omnipotens immensi conditor orbis / Esse polum iussit terraque immobile pondus. / Hinc lucem tenebris removet, noctemque diemque / Nuncupat; et longis spacys mox segregat undas, / Aequora secernit terris; vos Lunaque, solque / Praefectos dedit; hinc animalia cuncta creavit. / Post haec natus homo est caelesti afflatus ab aura, / Divinae consors mentis, dominusque priorum. / F. Estius. Anno 1589. (In the begning, the Almighty creator of the immeasurable world / Called heaven and the immovable weight of the earth into being. / He then divided light from darkness, and named day and night; And in the void he presently separated the waters, / Divided the sea from the land; he placed you, moon and sun, at the head. / He then created all living things. / Whereupon man was born, fanned by the breath of heaven, / Partner in the divine spirit, and ruler of all higher beings.) [Latin translation from Ger Luijten, et al. Dawn of the Golden Age: Northern Netherlandish Art, 1580-1620. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, 1993, p. 355.]; on mount, at lower center in graphite in later hand: B. 35 / W. 35 II / D IV. 497,1; on mount, at lower center in red ink in later hand: 8792.

Markings

recto: Friedrich August, King of Saxony (Lugt 971); verso: none