HOGENBERG, Frans (1535-1590). Murder of Henry III of France. Antwerp?, 1589. Single-sheet engraving (254 x 337 mm), some light marginal soiling or spotting, rubberstamp in margin. ONE OF THE EARLIEST PROTOTYPICAL COMIC STRIPS. Hogenberg’s visualization of Henry III of France assassination in 1589 is “depicted chronologically in several panels, with descriptions in rhyme written underneath the images. In the first panel, the assassin - the monk Jacques Clement - attends a church service. [He] is shown three times within the same image but at a different moment in time. Such a practice was at the time not uncommon in European art but can be confusing to modern-day viewers. However, contrary to other artists, Hogenberg actually helps the viewer to identify these three similarly dressed individuals as the same person by writing Clement’s name next to them. He is given sacramental bread in the foreground, then takes a confession and leaves the church to commit his crime. Hogenberg likely wanted to contrast his devout actions with the heinous murder that follows. In the second panel, Clement stabs Henry III to death, with the guards arriving too late. In the third panel, the monarch is succeeded by the Duke of Navarre, who takes the name Henry IV. The fourth and final panel shows Clement’s execution by quartering, a common punishment for people who committed regicide” (Lambiek Comiclopedia).