Allaert Claesz, (Aertgen van Leyden), "Soldier Overcome by Death", Flemish, 1520s-50s, after Jacob Binck, antique copper engraving on paper, signed with monogram "AC" on a tablet at upper right corner, c.2.3/8" x 3.1/4" [59mm x 78mm]; some staining, reduced at the margins, mostly left side and bottom, very good condition. This is an authentic original.

COA with detailed provenance will be included.

Reference:

Hollstein, 162;
Bartsch IX,135-39
Douce, 1833, 190

Several "Dance of Death" engravings by Claesz can be found in different museum collections. "Soldier Overcome by Death" appears to be the rarest artwork in this series. We could located only two other copies. One of them is located in the British Museum, London [registration number: 1850,0612.399]. Another copy is owned by the Harvard Art Museum. The British Museum suggests the date of creation 1520-1550. Harvard Art Museum does not provide an estimated date of creation but notes that Allaert Claesz was active 1520-1555.

This engraving belongs to the series of "Dance of Death" by Allaert Claesz, influenced by Holbein. However, Francis Douce [1833], separates this print from the other prints of this series created by Claesz. He lists seven "Dance of Death" prints which have "156Z" engraved in the monogram (160-61, 1833). Douce interprets this as the date of creation "1562." The undated "Soldier Overcome by Death" is described by Douce separately on page 190 ["terrific print"]. The contemporary experts question the interpretation of the "156Z" in the monogram as the year of creation. According to the new research, Allaert Claesz was active 1520-1550s.

Allaert Claesz van Leyden, also known as Aertgen or Aert van Leyden, (Leiden, c.1498 - c.1564, Leiden), was a 16th-Century Netherlandish painter, draughtsman and designer of stained glass.

According to the biographer Karel van Mander (1604), Van Leyden was a son of a Leiden fuller. In 1516, he became an apprentice to the Leiden painter Cornelis Engebrechtsz. Van Leydens early work was influenced by the style of his mentor, Engebrechtsz., while his later works shows influences by Jan van Scorel and Maarten van Heemskerck, among others. According to the Leiden city records, Aertgen van Leyden lived and worked in Leiden from 1521 to 1564.

Aertgen van Leyden's work remained in demand after his death. Rubens owned one of his paintings. The 1656 list of Rembrandt's possessions also includes several works by Aertgen van Leyden. Works by this artist can be found at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid. In 2009, Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden purchased a triptych by Aertgen van Leyden dating to about 1530. This work, depicting the Last Judgment, was the part of an exhibition on Lucas van Leyden which the museum organized together with the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011.

The artwork will be mailed unframed.

US: Priority (c.2-8 days) ------- $28.50 - registered
Canada: Express (c.4-6 days) --- $52.50
World: Express (c.5-8 days) ---- $72.50