Nicolas Béatrizet (1507/1515-c. 1565) - Lot 6

Nicolas Béatrizet (1507/1515-c. 1565) Battle of the Amazons. 1559. Burin. 815x310mm. Robert-Dumesnil 98; Bartsch 98; Bianchi 106. Very fine proof on laid paper, in two folded leaves (watermark: pilgrim holding a staff in a circle - close Woodward 22, dated c. 1561), of the 2nd state (of 5), the word "Lothoringus" corrected to "Lotharingus", but before the publisher's address Orlandi and the date 1602. Scattered light foxing. Minor accidents, small oxidized spots and wormholes at edges. The junction of the two leaves reinforced on the verso. Trace of oxidized adhesive on verso. Narrow margins (2 to 4mm). For this engraving, Nicolas Béatrizet, an engraver and goldsmith from Lorraine active in Rome and France, drew his inspiration from a bas-relief seen on a Roman sarcophagus in the Capitoline Hill, now preserved in the Vatican, but also from the accounts of authors such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus. The battle of the Amazons is a recurring theme in Renaissance art, symbolizing the conflict between civilizations, the male and female sexes, and virtù (strength, courage). This dynamic scene, organized as a frieze, full of movement and contortion, with entangled groups of combatants, is typical of Renaissance Mannerist aesthetics. The engraved letter explains that Béatrizet is both the author and publisher of this engraving, published at his own expense: "Eamque aeneis formis incidit atque in edibus suis suaque impensa Nicolaus Beatricius Lotharingus in lucem ad communem omnium qui rebus antiquis oblectantur utilitatem emisit K. Ian ∞DLIX" ("Nicolas Béatrizet, Lorrain, engraved this subject on two copper plates, at his own expense and thanks to his own treasure, in order to make it known to the public for the common good of all those who delight in ancient things, on Calendes Day in January 1559").