Gijsbert van VEEN: Allegory of the Wedding of Evil and Devil
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Engraving after Otto van Veen, 371 x 241 mm (sheet). Hollstein 12, 1st state (of 2).
Impression of the 1st state of 2 before the inscription Franc. Antonij excudit.
Very fine impression printed on laid paper with watermark (coat of arms), trimmed to the platemark or just inside (no loss of image); trimmed 1 or 2 mm inside the platemark in the blank part bottom (the whole letter is preserved).
One tiny scratch in the paper and 2 tiny tears of 10 mm, carefuly repaired, under the Devil's head. A tiny repaired tear in the upper right corner. Otherwise in good condition.
Evil is pictured as a woman with a veil covering her eyes; an Angel shuts her sinful mouth with the help of a lead weight. The woman is represented holding hands with the Devil, who appears in the guise of a man with horns on his head, with snakes for hair and wearing a crown of peacock's feathers and a skin that looks like a wild beast's, but is in fact the skin of a donkey.
Hovering above the flames and clouds of smoke wafting up from Hell, demons are celebrating the union of Evil and Devil, while at their feet are allegories of Usury, Spoliation, Hypocrisy (religious hypocrisy), Lust, Fraud (wearing the hat of Hermès, god of messengers... and thieves), and the Thirst for Honours in Church or Kingship.
This print is the demonic counterpart of the Allegory of the Wedding of Christ and the Church, and it too was engraved after Otto van Veen (Hollstein 11).