16th C. Ghisi Engraving, Eritrean Sibyl by Michelangelo

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Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 11, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-11 10:00:00 2018-10-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3500
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• Lot Description
  Engraver Giorgio Mantovano Ghisi (Italian, Mantua, ca. 1520-1582 Mantua) after Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, Caprese 1475-1564 Rome), "The Eritrean Sibyl; from series of Prophets and Sibyls in the Sistine Chapel" (also Eritirean or Erythraean Sibl). Publisher: Nicolaus van Aelst (Flemish, Brussels 1526-1613, Rome). 16th century CE - a 3rd or 4th state (of 5). A strong impression printed on fine laid paper with the watermark of an "anchor in a circle" - very close to Briquet #471, dated to 1527. Giorgio Ghisi’s detailed renderings, including this engraving of the Eritrean Sibyl, helped to make Michelangelo’s frescoes among the best-known High Renaissance monuments, despite the fact that they were difficult to access. Since the Sistine Chapel ceiling was too large to include on one sheet, Ghisi produced a series of oversize engravings of five sibyls and seven prophets. A strong impression sold for $7,000 at Sotheby's twenty years ago (see below). An incredibly engraving that rarely comes available! Size: sheet measures ~ 21.75" L x 16.875" W (55.2 cm x 42.9 cm)
  
  Inscription: Inscribed in image bottom center: "MICHAEL ANGELUS INVENT ET PINXIT GEORGIUS MANTUANUS FECIT / Nic.o Van alst [sic] formis Romae"; There is also a tablet below the Sibyl that has a formal engraved legend: "JOANES IACOBUS DE RUBIS FORMIS ROMA alla pace"
  
  See the Metropolitan Museum of Art's example (Accession Number 1984.1108.1) - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/367698 Please notice that although the Met example's impression seems to be of similar quality to our example, there is a tablet below the Sibyl that is blank. Ours has a formal engraved legend. While the Met example is 2nd state; our example dates a bit later, probably the 3rd or 4th state of 5 - and definitely dating to the 16th century according to an expert with whom we consulted.
  
  Note that Giorgio Mantovano Ghisi's engraving of Michelangelo's "The Eritirean Sibyl", ca. 1570 sold for $7,000 at Sotheby's, New York, 11 May 1995, Lot 56.
  
  Catalogue Raisonne: Boorsch, Lewis and Lewis 155.45.ii; Bellini 1979, p. 140; Bellini 1998, 77.15.ii; Bartsch XV.393.21; TIB 31[15], 59.21.ii
  
  Watermark of "anchor in a circle" may be found in Charles Molse Briquet, "Les Filigranes: Dictionnaire Historique Des Marques De Papier Des Leur Apparition Vers 1282 Jusqu'uen 1600" - illustrated in figures 471 and 472, descriptions on pp. 454-478. As noted, the watermark on the fine laid paper of this engraving is very close to #471 which is dated to 1527.
  
  For more on Ghisi: Paolo Bellini "Incisioni di Giorgio Ghisi" Rassegna di studi e di notizie. 7, 1979, p. 140.; Suzanne Boorsch, R. E. Lewis, Michal Lewis The Engravings of Giorgio Ghisi. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, cat. no. 45.ii, p. 155, ill.; Paolo Bellini L'opera incisa di Giorgio Ghisi. Bassano del Grappa, 1998, cat. no. 15.ii, p. 77.
  
  Provenance: private Lucille Lucas collection, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #133932

  Condition

  The sheet is only slightly trimmed on the left and top; it has a number of small repairable tears; there is slight staining to the left side; there is a loss of about 1/2 x 3/4 inches on the left side of the center arch that has been replaced by added paper drawn in in sepia ink. Set in a black mat with a transparent window.
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