This fine early 18th-century engraving by flemish printmaker Jacques Coelemans (1654-1732) was commissioned by Jean-Baptiste II de Boyer (1645-1709).

It formed part of ‘Recueil D'Estampes D'Aprés Les Tableaux Des Peintres Les Plus Celebres D'Italie, Des Pays-Bas Et De France, Qui sont à Aix dans le Cabinet de M. Boyer d'Aguilles’.

Within mountainous terrain and partially hidden by rocks, a muscular man, devoid of all clothing, carries a scythe as a weapon. The work, originally painted by an artist known as ‘Chivoli’, possibly Lodovico Cardi (1559-1613), was owned by Jean-Baptiste II de Boyer, the Lord of Éguilles. His awe-inspiring collection included works by Raphael, Titian, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Veronese, Tintoretto, Nicolas Poussin, Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck among others. So it’s little surprise that he sought to catalogue them all as engravings in a folio.

However, Boyer was unlike other collectors as he produced many of the engravings himself. A worthy skill, which earned him high praise from peers, such as Pitton de Tournefort who referred to him as: “A man of quality, who moreover fulfils the duties of his office, could not relax more nobly.”

Jacques Coelemans engraved this particular piece, which is a striking example of his chiaroscuro mastery. The Royal Collection and British Museum hold complete copies of the folio.

Signed in the plate lower left and held within a contemporary glazed frame.

Medium: Engraving on hand-laid paper
Overall size: 14” x 17½” / 36cm x 44cm
Year of creation: c. 1709
Condition: Artwork presents well. Minor foxing in the top left.

Jacques Coelemans

Jacques Coelemans trained under Frederik Bouttats the Younger at the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke.

Learn more about Jacques Coelemans in our directory.
Our reference: BRV1272