Gillis VAN BREEN: Allegory on the good and the corrupt tree - ca. 1600
Price: € 2500
Engraving after Karel van Mander (1548 - 1606), 193 x 285 mm (sheet). Hollstein (Gillis van Breen) undescribed, New Hollstein (Karel van Mander) 89, undescribed state.
Very scarce impression of an undescribed 1st state, before CJVisscher’s address. This address appears on the only other recorded impression of this print, in the British Museum (1937,0915.289), whose entry reads: "This is the only impression of this plate recorded in the New Hollstein volume".
Very fine and well-contrasted impression, printed on watermarked laid paper (coat of arms with a stripe). Very slightly trimmed in the lower white part with slight damage to the name of C. Schonaeus. Small margins on the other three sides. A tiny foxmark in the subject, otherwise in very good condition.
Cornelis Schonaeus is the author of the Latin verses engraved under the image, Seducit miseros carnis damnosa voluptas:/ Spiritus ad Christum contendit, et aetheris arcem: The fatal voluptuousness of the flesh leads the unfortunate astray:/ The Holy Spirit brings them back to Christ and the citadel of heaven.
This allegory illustrates a passage from chapter 7 of the Gospel of Matthew, verses 15 to 20: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
The richly-dressed couple can also be seen in a print of similar dimensions, also engraved by Gillis van Breen after Karel van Mander and captioned by Cornelis Schonaeus: Allegory on the Narrow Way and the Broad Way (see the impression in the Rijksmuseum). This print illustrates verses 13 and 14 of the same Gospel.