Set of six engravings mounted to gilt card in sets of three, all in contemporary color. 195 x 150 mm. Each engraving appears to be in a proof state, in advance of signing by the artist and engraver. Closely trimmed, and originally mounted on poor quality stiff gold card for framing; backing boards removed by Celia Withycombe in 2017.

This set is part of a suite of twenty-one engravings (an engraved title and twenty numbered prints) designed by the Flemish painter Joannes Stradanus (Jan van der Straet). Trained in Antwerp, Stradanus spent most of his prolific career in Florence, working for the Medici family.

The didactic purpose of each engraving is reminiscent of a 15th century Biblia Pauperum, in that the text at the top is the prefiguration from the Old Testament, while that at the bottom is from the Gospels.
Jan van der Straet, popularly known as Stradanus was born in Bruges in 1523. He trained in his father’s shop, then in Antwerp with Pieter Aertsen. By 1545, he had joined the Antwerp painters' guild of Saint Luke. He moved to Florence in 1550, where he entered the service of the Medici dukes and Giorgio Vasari. His designs, engraved by such Flemish masters as Theodore Galle, Jan Collaert, and Joannes Wierix, gained immense popularity throughout Europe. Stradanus’ work represents the peak of Renaissance engraving.

The prints present in this set are:The Arrest of Christ – Old Testament prefiguration: Susceperunt me sicut... Psalms 16:12 New Testament: Venit Judas Iscariotes... Mark 14 Christ is mocked – Old Testament prefiguration: Corpus meum... Isaiah 50:6New Testament: Omnes condemnaverunt eum esse reum mortis... Mark 14 Christ before Pilate – Old Testament prefiguration: Surgentes testes iniqui... Psalms 34:11 / New Testament : Principes [autem] sacerdotum et omne concilium... Matthew 26 Jesus before Herod – Old Testament prefiguration: Et dixerunt Principes... Jeremiah 38:4 New Testament: Stabant autem principes... Luke 23 The Way of the Cross – Old Testament prefiguration: Tulit (Abraham) ligna... Genesis 22:6 New Testament: Et baiulans sibi crucem exivit... John 19 Christ nailed to the cross – Old Testament prefiguration: Foderunt manus... Psalms 21:17 New Testament: Et postquam venerunt in locum... Luke 23

Provenance: PBA Galleries Sale 601, 17 November 2016, #37.