The Early Life of Christ in the Bowyer Bible by Phillip Medhurst. Part 2

photo: Harry Kossuth

BOWYER BIBLE VOLUME 27 PRINT 3421

THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI

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The three Kings bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ-child sitting
on the lap of the Virgin. One of the Kings, his crown and sceptre on the ground besides
an ammonite-shaped vessel, kneels down and kisses the hand of Jesus. An engraving
made by Jan Sadeler I after Marten de Vos. 1581. Flemish school. Lettered below left:
"M.DE. VOS I 1581" and at right "ISADLER.FE:/Cum grat: et Pri: S.C.M". Dimensions:
height: 190 millimetres; width: 130 millimetres. One of a series on the childhood of
Christ.

Marten de Vos (1532 1603) was a painter and draughtsman. He was a pupil of Pieter de
Vos, a follower of Frans Floris in Antwerp and of Jacopo Tintoretto in Venice. During c.
1552-1556/58 he was in Italy, where he visited Rome, Venice and possibly Florence. In
1558 he was a master in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke. By 1571 he was dean of the
Guild. He is documented as a Lutheran in 1584, adapting to the prevailing Catholicism
in 1585. Apart from his sons Daniel and Maarten the Younger, eleven pupils were
registered with the Guild of whom only Wenzel Coeberger is well known. He was also
known as Maarten de Vos.

Jan Sadeler I (1550 1600?) was an engraver and publisher, eldest of three brothers (with
Aegidius I and Raphael I). Originally in Antwerp, c.1579 he moved to Cologne and was
also active in Mainz, Frankfurt and Munich. He left Munich in 1595 and went to
Verona, then moved to Venice with his brother Raphael in 1596/7. He received the
imperial privilege in 1581 and this was renewed 1593. The papal privilege was granted
c.1598. Sadeler's unclear signature has led Hollstein to attribute some of his prints to the
non- existent
J. Haeyler . Also was also known as Johannes Sadeler. Bibliography: Isabelle de
Ramaix in Le livre et l'estampe , XXXV 1989 pp.7-46 examines new documents on the
family and its genealogy.

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Prints after De Vos in the Bowyer Bible:-

Volume 01: 0026 Creation. Genesis 1:10
0037 The Almighty
0040 Day and Night
0041 The Almighty
0058 The Almighty. Genesis 1:11-12
0070 The Almighty. Genesis 1:16
0071 The Almighty. Genesis 1:16
0079 Birds and Fishes. Genesis 1:20
0080 Birds and Fishes. Genesis 1:20
0102 Creation
0135 Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:6
0149 Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:9-19
0165 Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:23
0172 Adam and Eve expelled. Genesis 3:24
Volume 02: 0181 Cain & Abel. Genesis 4:1-2
0182 Cain & Abel make an offering. Genesis 4:3-7
0183 Cain & Abel make an offering. Genesis 4:3-7
0187 Cain slaying Abel. Genesis 4:8
0203 Tents and Cattle. Genesis 4:20
0204 Jubal harp & organ. Genesis 4:21
0205 Tubal Cain brass & iron. Genesis 4:22
0206 Lamech and his two wives. Genesis 4:19
0207* Genesis 4:20 (see 0208)
0208* Genesis 4:20 (see 0207)
0212 Enoch translated. Genesis 5:24
0292 Burnt offering. Genesis 8:20&22
0323 Nineveh. Genesis 10:9&11
Volume 03: 0406 Destruction of Sodom. Genesis 19:24&26
0441 Hagar in the desert. Genesis 21:19
0488 Rebekah at the well. Genesis 24:17-18
Volume 04: 0509 Esau selling his birthright. Genesis 25:29
0547 Jacob s Dream. Genesis 28:12
0613 Jacob wrestling with the Angel. Genesis 32:24&26
Volume 05: 0714 Joseph s brethren come to buy corn. Genesis 42:6
0718 Joseph s brethren return from Jacob. Genesis 43:26&29
0796 Moses in the bulrushes. Exodus 2:3
Volume 06: 0857 Rod of Moses turned into a serpent. Exodus 7:10
Volume 09: 1359 Israelites rebelling. Numbers 14:16
Volume 10: 1413 Balak s sacrifices. Numbers 23, 24
1420 Idolatry. Numbers 25:1-8
Volume 12: 1614 Gideon s sacrifice. Judges 6:21
1630 Gideon s army lapping the water. Judges 7:5
1636 Gideon s battle with the Midianites. Judges 7:19-22
1670 Samson killing the lion. Judges 14:5-6
1689 Samson takes away the gates of Gaza. Judges 16:3
1699 Samson s death. Judges 16:29-30
Volume 13: 1856 Nabal at Carmel. 1 Samuel 25:7

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1857 Abigail saves her husband. 1 Samuel 25:14-17
1868 Abigail & Nabal. 1 Samuel 25:36
1907 David plays before the Ark. 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Volume 14: 1920 David and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:10-13
1945 Israelites making obeisance to Absalom. 2 Samuel 15:2-5
1947 Shimei stoneth David. 2 Samuel 16:13
1954 Ahithophel s counsel defeated. 2 Samuel 17:1-21
1960 Death of Absalom. 2 Samuel 18:9-14
1995 Solomon and Bathsheba. 1 Kings 2:19-20
2008 Solomon s judgement. 1 Kings 3:23-25
2025 Solomon building the Temple. 1 Kings 6
Volume 15: 2113 Queen of Sheba & Solomon. 1 Kings 10:1-6
2142 Ahijah rending his garment. 1 Kings 11:30-32
2150 Rehoboam & the Israelites. 1 Kings 12:6-11
2153 Rehoboam & the Israelites. 1 Kings 12:12-14
2154 Death of Adoram. 1 Kings 12:18
2155 Calves of Bethel & Dan. 1 Kings 12:28-29

2157 Jeroboam s hand withered. 1 Kings 13:1-5
2191 Jezebel destroys the prophets. 1 Kings 18:4
Volume 16: 2216 Elijah comforted by an angel. 1 Kings 19:5-6
2255 Elijah going up into heaven. 2 Kings 2:11
2271 Elisha promises a son to the Shunamite. 2 Kings 4:8-16
2272 Birth of the child. 2 Kings 4:17-18
2273 Death of the same. 2 Kings 4:20-21
2274 The mother on the way to Elisha . 2 Kings 4:24-27
2275 The mother on the way to Elisha . 2 Kings 4:29-31
2277 Elisha raises the child. 2 Kings 4:34-36
2336 The angel of the Lord smote the Assyrians. 2 Kings 19:35
Volume 17: 2425 The stoning of Zachariah. 2 Chronicles 24:21
2435 Hezekiah changing the water course. 2 Chronicles 32:30
Volume 20: 2693 Solomon s Song. Canticles
2718 The church glorieth in Christ. Canticles 3:7-8
2724 Christ s love. Canticles 5:4
2727 Solomon and vineyard. Canticles 8:11-14
2736 Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel
Volume 21: 2798 Uriah slain. Jeremiah 26:23
Volume 22: 2877 Daniel interprets a dream. Daniel 2:17-46
2883 Worshipping the golden image. Daniel 3:7-8
Volume 23: 2898 Balshazzar s feast. Daniel 5:1-6
Volume 24: 3049 Esdras and the angel. 2 Esdras 10:25-31
3050 Esdras: a dream. 2 Esdras 13
3051 2 Esdras 14:38-44
3059 Strangling a man. Tobit 2:3
Volume 26: 3246 Antiochus committed sacrilege. Maccabees 1:20-25
3248 Mattathias punishing idolatry. Maccabees 2:23-30
3249 Destruction of the followers of Mattathias. Maccabees 2:38
3252 Offering sacrifice on the new altar. Maccabees 4:52-56
3253 Judas pulls down the altar. Maccabees 4:45-49
3284 Torture and death of the seven brothers. 2 Maccabees 7
3300 Maccabees protected. 2 Maccabees 10:29-30

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3304 Timotheous and his brother destroyed. 2 Maccabees 10:35ff
3309 Nicanor s death. 2 Maccabees 15:12-16
Volume 27: 3316 Frontispiece. Matthew
3320 Frontispiece. Matthew
3367 St Matthew. Matthew
3416 The wise men s offerings. Matthew 2:11
3417 The wise men s offerings. Matthew 2:11
3421 The wise men s offerings. Matthew 2:11
3479 The flight into Egypt. Matthew 2:14-15
Volume 28: 3493 Murder of the Innocents. Matthew 2:16
3495 Murder of the Innocents. Matthew 2:16
3511 Flight into Egypt. Matthew 2:21
3559 Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5
3588 Christ cleanses the leper. Matthew 8:1-3
3630 Christ heals the dumb. Matthew 9:32-33
Volume 29: 3667 Gathering up the tares and the wheat. Matthew 13:24-30
3720 Christ heals the daughter. Matthew 15:22-28
Volume 30: 3843 The man without the wedding garment. Matthew 22:11-12
3948 Clothing the naked. Matthew 25:36
3976 Partaking of the Lord s supper. Matthew 26:26-29
Volume 31: 4020 Judas brings back the money. Matthew 27:3-4
4029 Jesus brought before Pilate. Matthew 27:11-14
4030 Pilate washes his hands. Matthew 27:24-25
4068 Jesus crucified. Matthew 27:35
4136 Resurrection. Matthew 28:1-4
4140 Resurrection. Matthew 28:2-4
4162 Christ appears to his disciples. Matthew 28:13-20
Volume 32: 4201 St Mark
4236 Christ baptised. Mark 1:9-11
4247 Christ baptised. Mark 1:9-11
4266 Christ heals uncovering the roof. Mark 2:4-10
Volume 33: 4357 Christ stills the tempest. Mark 4:37-38
4368 Beheading John the Baptist. Mark 5:27-28
4374 Feeding the multitude. Mark 6:38-44
4395 The Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-8
4396 The Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-7
4397 The Transfiguration. Mark 9:2-8
4432 Christ rides into Jerusalem. Mark 11:7-10
Volume 35: 4690 The nativity. Luke 2:7
4714 Angel announcing to the shepherds. Luke 2:8-15
4743 The adoration of the shepherds. Luke 2:16
4771 The adoration of the shepherds. Luke 2:14
4776 The Circumcision. Luke 2:21
4797 Christ presented at the Altar. Luke 2:21-28
4836 Christ in the Temple. Luke 2:46-49
4837 Christ in the Temple. Luke 2:46-49
Volume 36: 4854 Temptation. Luke 4:5-8
4891 Christ preaching to his disciples. Luke 6:35-42
5020 Parable of the great supper. Luke 14:17-20
Volume 38: 5250 St John

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5274 The testimony of John. John 1:19-29
5290 Christ turns water into wine. John 2:1-10
5320 Christ and Nicodemus. John 3:1-21
5348 Christ and the woman of Samaria. John 4:5-27
Volume 39: 5401 The woman taken in adultery. John 8:3-8
5427 Christ the good shepherd. John 10:1-15
5433 Christ the good shepherd. John 10:11-14
5447 Christ raises Lazarus. John 11:43-44
5473 Christ comes to Jerusalem. John 12:12-14
Volume 40: 5519 Judas betrays Jesus. John 18:3-6
5558 Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. John 19:5
5559 Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. John 19:5
5587 Jesus bearing his cross. John 19:17
5605 Jesus commends his mother to John. John 19:25-27
5633 Jesus buried. John 19:38-42
Volume 41: 5709 Peter s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5711 James Major and Minor martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5714 John s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5721 Andrew s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5725 Philip s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5728 Thomas s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5730 Bartholomew s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5733 Matthew s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5736 James s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5740 Simon s martyrdom. Acts 1:13
5747 Matthew s martyrdom. Acts 1:26
5764 The cloven tongues. Acts 2:1-4
5765 The cloven tongues. Acts 2:1-4
5778 Peter and John. Acts 3:1-9
5794 Death of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5:5
Volume 42: 5808 The apostles are beaten. Acts 5:40
5812 Stephen answers to the charge of blasphemy. Acts 7
5869 Saul baptised by Ananias. Acts 9:9-17
5881 Peter s vision. Acts 10:11-17
5899 Peter delivered out of prison. Acts 12:7-8
5934 The Lystrians bring sacrifices to Paul. Acts 14:13-18
5935 The stoning of Paul. Acts 14:19
5936 The stoning of Paul. Acts 14:19
Volume 43: 6057 Paul: Faith Hope and Charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Volume 44: 6065 St Paul
6083 Paul preaching justification by faith. Galatians 3:13
6108 St Paul
6109 St Paul
6117 Martyrdom of St Paul. Philippians 2
6139 Washing the feet of the Saints. 1 Timothy 5:10
6170 Martyrdom. Hebrews 11:37
Volume 45: 6190 Peter preaches to the spirits. 1 Peter 3:19
6210 The Father the Word and the Holy Ghost. 1 John 5:7
6276 The great red dragon. Revelations 12:1-5
6316 A new heaven and new earth. Revelations 21

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photo: Harry Kossuth

BOWYER BIBLE VOLUME 27 PRINT 3399. THE DREAM OF ST. JOSEPH

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The foster-father of Jesus is seated at a table at right, sleeping; the angel appears at left;
in the background, at right, the Virgin, kneels and reads a book. This etching and
engraving made by Francesco Polanzani after Jacques Stella (formerly attributed to
Nicolas Poussin). 1756. School: Italian. Dimensions: height: 325 millimetres; width: 227
millimetres.

Jacques Stella (1596 1657) was a painter and engraver in the circle of Poussin. He was in
Rome 1623-34, then in Paris. Bibliography: S. Laveissière & L. Widerkehr, 'JS', Lyon,
Musée des Beaux-Arts, 2006. Francesco Polanzani (1700 after 1783) was an engraver in
Rome. His baptismal name was Francesco, but he seems always to have been called
Felice.

This is Plate 8 from a series of twenty-two plates depicting the life of the Virgin. The
habitual attribution of the compositions to Poussin has now been generally rejected.
Jacques Stella is now considered to be the actual designer of the set: Claudine
Bouzonnet-Stella's will (1697) mentions a series of twenty-two drawings on the life of
the Virgin executed by her uncle. Many of the original drawings survive: one for
'Pentecost' is now in the British Museum. A later edition of this set was published under
the title 'La Vita della gran Madre di Dio' by Venanzio Monaldini in 1783. Bibliography:
Anthony Blunt, Jacques Stella, the De Masso family and falsifications of Poussin ,
Burlington Magazine vol. CXVI, December 1974, pp. 744-749.

Other prints after Stella in the Bowyer Bible (in the same series): -

Volume 27: 3390 The betrothal of Mary and Joseph. Matthew 1:18
Volume 34: 4634 The Annunciation. Luke 1:28
3399 The angel appearing to Joseph. Matthew 1:20
3441 The wise men s offerings. Matthew 2:11
3465 The flight into Egypt. Matthew 2:14
Volume 35: 4693 The nativity. Luke 2:7
4695 The arrival in Bethlehem, the annunciation to the shepherds
and the nativity. Luke 2:7-16
4713 Angels announcing to the shepherds. Luke 2:8-9
4778 The Circumcision. Luke 2:21
4790 Christ presented at the Altar. Luke 2:21-28
4816 The finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple. Luke 2:46-49
4833 The finding of the boy Jesus in the Temple. Luke 2:46-49
Volume 41: 5762 Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4

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photo: Harry Kossuth


BOWYER BIBLE VOLUME 27 PRINT 3457

REST ON THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

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The Virgin sit on the ground with the Christ-child in her lap, holding a water bottle on a
chain. Meanwhile, St Joseph adjusts the saddle on the donkey at right under the shade
of a tree. A path winds round the base of a hill and a river flows in background at left.
This engraving was made by Jacob Matham after Hendrik Goltzius. 1589. School:
Dutch. The print is signed and dated in the lower centre: "HGoltzius Inuent. Ao.1589".
Dimensions: height: 210 millimetres; width: 158 millimetres. There is a related drawing
by Goltzius in Berlin.

Hendrik Goltzius (1558 1617) was a painter, engraver and publisher in Haarlem
between about 1582 and 1598. He established his own business in 1582, and for the next
six years held a monopoly in the northern Netherlands on publishing designs by
contemporary artists. Between 1586 and 1590 his print-publishing activities blossomed
and he travelled to Italy in 1590-91, leaving his stepson Jacob Matham and Jan
Saenredam in charge of the business. Around 1598 he handed over all his engraving
and publishing activities to Matham. Goltzius gave up the business of printmaking
completely after 1598 to concentrate on painting until his death in 1617. Bibliography:
exhibition catalogues from the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, the Metropolitan Museum of
Art New York and Toledo Museum of Art Ohio (2003).

Jacob Matham (1571 1631) was an engraver and publisher in Haarlem who married
mother of Goltzius in 1579. He was in Italy 1593-7. After taking over the Goltzius shop
in Haarlem around 1600 he received his own privilege from Prague in 1601.


Prints after Goltzius in the Bowyer Bible:-

Volume 01: 0024 Creation of Heaven and Earth. Genesis 1
0039 Creation. Genesis 1:4-5
0045 Creation. Genesis 1:6 & 8
0054 Creation. Genesis 1:6 & 8
0065 Creation. Genesis 1:14 & 19
0076 Birds etc. Genesis 1:20 & 23
0097 Creation. Eve. Genesis 2:21-22
Volume 03: 0474 Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Genesis 22:9&13
Volume 09: 1350 Bringing fruit. Numbers 13:24
Volume 10: 1398 Balaam smiting his Ass. Numbers 22:22-28
Volume 15: 2177 Elijah fed by the ravens. 1 Kings 17:1-6
Volume 19: 2627 Praise God for his judgment. Psalms 96:11-13
Volume 20: 2661 Wisdom. Proverbs 9:1
2683 Vanity of vanities. Ecclesiastes 1:2
Volume 21: 2767 The blind and lame restored. Isaiah 35:5-6
2788 Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:11-13
Volume 22: 2849 Resurrection of dry bones. Ezekiel 37:1-10
Volume 23: 2919 Daniel s vision. Daniel 7:2-8
2940 Amos Zachariah Malachi. Amos
2954 Elisha and Jonah

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