Bartholomaeus Spranger and his Late Wife Christina Muller

c. 1600

Aegidius Sadeler II, after Bartholomaeus Spranger

Associated Names
Aegidius Sadeler II

Artist, Flemish, c. 1570 - 1629

Bartholomaeus Spranger

Artist, Netherlandish, 1546 - 1611

Marcus Christoph Sadeler

Publisher, Flemish, 1614 - 1650

This is a drawing of an allegorical scene featuring numerous symbolic figures and objects. The drawing is detailed and elaborate, with mythical and allegorical figures surrounding a framed portrait of a young woman. The young woman is elegantly dressed, and her portrait is held within an ornate frame adorned with foliage and symbolic motifs. Surrounding her are figures such as winged angels, a skeletal figure holding an hourglass and a scythe, and other characters associated with themes of time, mortality, and artistic endeavor. One figure appears to be an artist holding a palette and brushes, gazing out from the lower left. Above, a banner is held aloft by cherubs. The image is rich in symbolism, suggesting themes of time, impermanence, art, and knowledge in the style of the Northern Renaissance.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 29.3 x 41.4 cm (11 9/16 x 16 5/16 in.) (trimmed)

  • Accession Number

    2012.92.594

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Hollstein, no. 332, State ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Hill-Stone Fine Prints & Drawings, New York); Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C., purchased November 6, 2007; Gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2013

  • Northern Mannerist Prints from the Kainen Collection, NGA, 2013 - 2014.

Bibliography

1949

  • Hollstein, F.W.H. et al. Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700. Vols. I-XV, XVIII, XIX. Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger: no. 332, ii/ii

Inscriptions

in image, in cartouche at top right: MORS INIQVA QVID TANTVM / DECVS RAPIS? PIETAS AEQVA / QVAE ET MORTVAM SERVAS; in image, in oval around portrait at right: CHRISTINA MVLLERINA VXOR B. SPRANGER; in image, at bottom left: QVID ANTE DIEM VVLTIS? TE / TEMPVS VETAT OCCIDERE. TE / ARTES PRAECLARAE CADERE; below image, at centre: Priuatas lacrymas Bart. Sprangeri Egid. Sadeler miratus artem et amantem redamans, publicas fecit: et / eideim promutua beneuolentia dedicauit. Pragae Anno Seculari; below image, at right: Marco Sadeler excudit

Wikidata ID

Q76557280

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