Boëtius Adams Bolswert (Bolsward 1580-1633 Antwerp)
16 etchings from: The set of Landscapes with Farmhouses
etchings, three variant pots (cf. Briquet 12904, no exact matches found)
15.6 x 24.5 cm (plate); 18 x 26.2 cm (sheet)
Hollstein nos. 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 353, 354, 355 [1]; Roethlisberger 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247 [2]
very good impressions, printing with rich platetone, great clarity and contrast, some occasional dry printing and foul-biting, laid down on the old (probably Arenberg mounts) along the left edge, the paper with vertical drying folds, the sheets in very good, untreated condition, circa 1 cm margins
Provenance:
Arenberg collection, Brussels and Nord-Kirchen (L. 567).
This very fine group of 16 etchings (from the set of Landscapes with Farmhouses of 20 from 1613-1614), all in particularly fine impressions, comes from the exceptionally large and important Arenberg collection. The collection of over 40,000 prints was sold in 669 lots at Christie’s in London in a series of sales starting on 12 July 1902. The patronage of the arts of the Dukes of Arenberg dates back to the 16th century, but the most substantial contribution to the magnificent print collection was made by Duke Louis-Engelbert d’Arenberg (1750-1820), who acquired a great number of prints (partly during his travels through France and Italy). In the 19th century, the famous albums, now in the Musée de l’Art Wallon, Liège [3], containing some 500 drawings by Lambert Lombart, were added to the collection.
[1] F.W.H. Hollstein, 'Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts. ca. 1450-1700, Volume III, Boekhorst-Brueghel', Amsterdam, 1949, p. 67.
[2] M.G. Roethlisberger, 'Abraham Bloemaert and his sons. Paintings and prints', Ghent, 1993, vol. I, pp. 195-200, vol. II, fig. 350-362, 364-366.
[3] see G. Denhaene, 'Les albums d'Arenberg et de Clérembault', dans Lambert Lombard. Peintre de la Renaissance. Liège 1505/1506-1566', exhib. cat., Liège, Musée de l'Art Wallon, 2006.