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Jan Luyken Prints
(Old Testament Series)

One of the finest series of 18th. Century Bible prints, artistically and psychologically. Titles are in Dutch and French. The artist is Jan Luyken (Loiken, Luycken) at his best. There were at least three editions. The first was edited by P. Mortier (1704). The second was printed in Covens and Mortier (1729). And then the plates were bought by F. Houttuyn who came out with a new edition (1747).
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FROM A JOSEPHUS OF PIETER MORTIER - 1704
As far as we can tell, this is the first edition of these prints. Printed on a stiff, yet thin laid paper, the images are pristine, crisp, clear, and well-inked. Titles are in Dutch. These large pages are roughly 20"x 16.5" (images roughly 17"x 13").


Gen. VII. De Sondvloed. P. Mortier edit Cum Privileg. Pag. 9
Rough Translation: The Flood. [Luyken shows the ark in the rising waters from the point of view of the animals and people who are being flooded.]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Genesis 7: "... 21 And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle, and beast, and every swarming thing that swarmeth upon the earth, and every man. ..."
Condition: Image is like mint; margins have no significant problems.
#LMO9  SOLD


Gen. XIX. Sodom door't Vuur Vergaan. P. Mortier edit Cum Privileg. Pag. 18
Rough Translation: Sodom Perishing by fire. [An incredible spectacle of flames coming from the heavens. Powerful and emotional facial expression on those who are trying to flee.]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Genesis 19: "... 24 Then the LORD caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 and He overthrow those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground ..."
Condition: Image is like mint; margins have no significant problems.
#LMO18  SOLD

Exod. IX. De Plaag van Hagel en Vuur over Egipte. P. Mortier edit Cum Privileg. Pag. 54
Rough Translation: The Plague of Hail Lighting Up over Egypt. [Highly dramatic storm scene with hail depicted powerfully and individually, even with smashed trees. A vivid portrayal of the suffering of the animals and people.]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Exodus 9: "... 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. ..."
Condition: Image is like mint; margins have no significant problems.
#LMO54  SOLD

Exod. XIX. De Wetgeeving op den Berg Sinai. P. Mortier edit Cum Privileg. Pag. 63
Rough Translation: The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. [One of the most powerful portrayals of the Hebrew people gathered around Mt. Sinai (complete with smoke, fire, etc.) which is surrounded by a fence. It is a tremendously emotional scene.]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Exodus 19: "... 16 And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. ..."
Condition: Image is like mint (with small, near invisible worm(?) hole in sky); margins have no significant problems.
#LMO63  SOLD

1. Het opzetten van den Tabernakel. 2. De Gouden Kandelaar, het Reukwerks Altaar, en de Tafel der Toonbrooden. 3. De Heerlykheyd des Heeren over de Arke des verbonds. 4. Viering van het Loofhutten Feest., page 71
Rough translations: 1. The setting up of the Tabernacle. 2. The Gold Menorah, the Incense Altar, and the Table of Showbread. 3. The Magnificant Cherubim over the Ark of the covenant. 4. Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Subject: 3 views of the building of the Tabernacle, the Ark, the inside of the Tabernacle, and the Feast of Tabernacles.
Page Size:  15" x 18.5"  Image Size: 13" x 16.5"  Condition:  very good, rich impression with one age-typical brown spot in the lower right image  #LMO71 #TA14 SOLD

1. "De binnenhof des Tempels, met het altaar, en de kopere kolommen." 2. "Inwying van Salomons Tempel." "De Arke des Verbonds in't Heylige der Heyligen." 4. De gegootene Zee, of het groot koper waschvat.", Pag. 189
Rough translations: 1. "The inside court of the Temple with the altar and the copper columns." 2. "Gathering in Solomon's Temple." 3. "The Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies." 4. "The iron Sea or the great copper wash basin."
Subject: This is one of the more famous illustrations of an artist's conception of the precincts and interior of the Temple of Solomon (see Rosenau, Vision of the Temple, p. 96, 116 - "Perhaps the most interesting personal interpretation of Villalpando's prototypes..." - She seems to be unaware of this earlier, 1704 rendition.); notable, among other things are the hoofed cherubim (following the image of Villalpando). Other artists who copied this image changed the hoofs to human feet.
Page Size: 15" x 19"  Image Size: 13" x 16.5"  Condition:  wonderful, dark impression with no problem worth mentioning except original folds that enter image at bottom right and top left (see image) 
Price: $100   #LMO189 #TE 12  

Pompejus neemt den Tempel te Ierusalem Stormenderhand in., Pag. 337
Rough translation: "Pompey captures the Temple in Jerusalem storming in."
Subject: This is an incredibly detailed attempt to portray the attack of Pompey on Jerusalem. There is an attempt at making the soldiers realistic, but the helmets seem to be 17th C. European.
Page Size: 15" x 18.5"  Image Size: 12.75" x 16.5"  Condition:  wonderful, dark impression with no problem worth mentioning except possibly that the left original fold is a bit doubled 
 #TE20 #LMO337 Keywords: Josephus  SOLD

Herodes Beoorlogt de Roovers inde Rotsen door Soldaaten die in Kisten aan yzere kettingen hangende door windassen neergelaaten worden. P. Mortier edit Cum Privileg. Pag. 355
Rough Translation: Herod waging war the [?] on the Rock Cliffs by the Soldiers hanging by boxes suspended by iron chains coming down on [?] the people below [?].
Relevant Passage from Josephus: Unclear to me. [Any information would be appreciated.]
Condition: Image is like mint except for a rust hole on the right side (see image) and a tear on a fold (a bit into the image) which accounts for the low price; margins have no significant problems.
#LMO355 SOLD

"Doorsicht van den Tempel tot Ierusalem Niewlicks uyt Josephus afgebeelt door I. H. Coccejus. Page. 658; a legend at the left from A-S with appropriate labeling on the view and labels in Dutch for the four directions.
Rough translation: "Transparent view of the Temple of Jerusalem ... from Josephus accourding to the depiction of I. H. Coccejus..." [with fold-up flap! but probably not by Luyken]
Subject: This is an early and rare example of an engraving with a fold-up flap (in the center). The door to the woman's court folds to reveal a staircase. If this engraving can be found at all, it may very well be missing the flap.
Page Size: 16" x 18.25"  Image Size: 13.25" x 15.5"  Condition:  wonderful rich, dark impression with a small tear in fold at margin not affecting image; near mint condition  
Price: $300   #TE16  #LMO658 Keywords: Josephus

De Uyterste verdelging van de Stad Jerusalem en den Tempel. Pag. 689
Rough translation: "The Total destruction of the City of Jerusalem and of the Temple." [This is one of the most powerful and dramatic examples of his work.]
Subject: This is an incredibly detailed and dramatic rendition of the destruction of the Temple by Roman soldiers. It is done with great vigor and power and emotional intensity. There is an attempt at making the soldiers realistic, but the helmets seem to be 17th C. European.
Page Size: 15" x 18.5"  Image Size: 12.75" x 16.5"  Condition:  wonderful, dark impression with no problem worth mentioning  #TE21 #LMO689  SOLD

FROM THE PREMIER COVENS AND MORTIER EDITION - 1729
This edition is on the highest quality paper ("Papier Royale" -- very thick, heavy, laid paper). The images are striking, clean, fresh, crisp, and well-inked. The pages have some soiling and a few spots but still look fresh and clean. These very large pages are roughly 25"x 22" (images roughly 17"x 13").


Exode IX.v.10. God flaat de Menschen en tVee met quaade Zweeren./ Dieu frappe d'Ulceres malins les Hommes & le Betail. Edit. a J. Covens et C. Mortier, Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit., 16
Rough Translation: God gave Boils to the Men and the Animals. [Plague - Moses throwing the soot into the air and men breaking out in boils]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Exodus 9.10: "10 And they took soot of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it up heavenward; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast."
Condition: Image near mint. Some insignificant soiling and spots in margins.
Cost:  $100   #LCMO16  Keywords: Exodus9


II.Samuel VI.v.14. David danst voor de Arke./ David danse devant l'Arche. Edit. a J. Covens et C. Mortier, Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit., 29.
Rough Translation: [King] David dances in front of the Ark.
Relevant Biblical Passage: 2Samuel 6.14: "14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod."
Condition: Image superb; margins are basically gorgeous.  #LCMO29  SOLD
 

FROM THE COVENS AND MORTIER COPPER PLATES OF 1729
This edition is on a high quality, heavy, laid paper (though not as heavy as the ones above) and with smaller margins. The images are dark, rich, clean, and well-inked with good contrast -- almost pristine. The margins have some soiling and browning, and a few have rough edges, but this does not detract from the images. (The centerfolds look dark in scans but are normal.) These large pages are roughly 20.5"x 17" (images roughly 17"x 13.25"). From a Dutch Bible by Goetzee published in 1747

I. ou III. des Rois X. v. 1. La Reine de Sceba vient voir Salomon. Edit. a J. Covens et C. Mortier, Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit., 31
Rough Translation: The Queen of Sheba comes to see Salomon.
Relevant Biblical Passage: 1Kings 10: "1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon because of the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions."
Condition: Image near mint. Some insignificant soiling in margins and rough edges.
Cost:  $50   #LCM2-O31  Keywords: 1Kings10
 


FROM THE HOUTTUYN COPPER PLATES OF 1747
This edition is on a high quality, heavy, laid paper (though not as heavy as the ones above) and with smaller margins. The images are dark, rich, clean, and well-inked with good contrast -- almost pristine. The margins have some soiling and browning, and a few have rough edges, but this does not detract from the images. (The centerfolds look dark in scans but are normal.) These large pages are roughly 20.5"x 17" (images roughly 17"x 13.25"). From a Dutch Bible by Goetzee published in 1747

I. Samuel XVII. v:49. Goliath tue par David. Edit. a F. Houttuyn, Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit., 28
Rough Translation: Goliath is killed by David.
Relevant Biblical Passage: 1Samuel 17.49: "49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth."
Condition: Image near mint. Some insignificant soiling in margins and frying at edges.
#LH2-O28  SOLD
 

FROM THE F. HOUTTUYN EDITION - 1747
The series of prints from this edition is on thin, laid paper with smaller margins than for some of the other Luyken editions. These large pages are roughly 18"x 13.75" (images roughly 16.5"x 12.5").


Genese II.v.19. Adam geest aan alle de Dieren Naamen./ Adam donne les Noms a tous les Animaux. Edit a F. Houttuyn, Johannes Luyken Inv. et Fecit., 2.
Rough Translation: Adam gives the Names to all the Animals.
Relevant Biblical Passage: Genesis 2.19: "19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof."
Condition: Image is very good to fine, perhaps a bit over-inked. Some pencil writing in margins and some old repairs on center fold visible almost only from back.
Cost:  $65   #LHO2  Keywords: Genesis2  SOLD


Exode. XIX. De Wetgeeving op den Berg Sinai./ Dieu donne sa Loi sur la Montagne de Sinai. Edit. a F. Houttuyn., Pag. 63, 22
Rough Translation: The Giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. [One of the most powerful portrayals of the Hebrew people gathered around Mt. Sinai (complete with smoke, fire, etc.) which is surrounded by a fence. It is a tremendously emotional scene.]
Relevant Biblical Passage: Exodus 19: "... 16 And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. ..."
Condition: a weak though decent impression on a clean sheet.
Cost: $35   #LHO22  Keywords: Exodus19  SOLD