Simon Frisius & Hendrik Hondius

Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)

Simon Frisius's & Hendrik Hondius's original etching, "Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)" is a fine, original example of early seventeenth century Dutch etching. In 1610 the Dutch publisher, engraver and artist, Hendrik Hondius, published "Pictorum aliquot celebrium praecipue Germaniae inferioris Effigies". The completed work contained sixty-nine portraits of the greatest artists who worked in the sixteenth and early seventeenth century. All of the portraits were designed by Hendrik Hondius. Hondius also engraved a small number of portraits but the majority were left to the etching skills of Simon Wynhoutsz Frisius 'Simon de Vries'. Individual impressions of the portraits were published separately, probably before publication. This appears to be the case with this original etching engraved by Simon Frisius, entitled, "Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)", which is printed on a very fine, laid paper and bears no binding marks.

One of the greatest portrait painters of any era, Hans Holbein the Younger (Augsburg, 1497- London, 1543), studied art techniques under his father, Hans Holbein the Elder (c. 1465-1524). He arrived in Basel in 1515 and worked extensively there as both a painter and book illustrator. Holbein visited England as a guest of Sir Thomas More in 1526 and had made it his permanent home by 1536 when he was appointed painter to the court of Henry VIII. His famous portraits created there of the king, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Sir Thomas More and many others are among his greatest.

Hendrik Hondius's early portrayal of Hans Holbein is of particular interest. The artist is portrayed with a brush in his right hand. On the column behind him is his palette. The background opens onto a street scene, probably in Basel. Here, from 1523 to 1526, Hans Holbein was at work on his most influential set of woodcuts, the "Dance of Death". Hence, on the street, we see the image of Death and the Nun. Hendrik Hondius's drawing which provided the basis for this etched portrait is in the collection of the British Museum, London.

Portrait of Hans Holbein Joannes Holbenus Original Etching by Simon Frisius and Hendrik Hondius

Portrait of Hans Holbein
(Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)

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Title:	Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)
Engraver:	Frisius, Simon Wynhoutsz 'Simon Frisius or Simon de Vries' (Harlingen, Friesland, c. 1580 - The Hague, 1629)
Designer:	Hondius, Hendrik (Duffel, 1573 - Leiden, 1650)
Date:	1610
Medium:	Original Etching
Publisher:	Hendrik Hondius
Note:	Simon Wynhoutsz Frisius 'Simon Frisius' 'Simon de Vries': An early seventeenth century Dutch etcher, Simon Wynhoutsz Frisius was also a leading merchant and served as a representative or ambassador in Holland to foreign rulers such as the Duke of Saxe Weimar. It is thought that he received his artistic training in Amsterdam as most of his initial etchings are topographical views of that city. Simon Frisius settled in Paris around 1598 and gained his first fame as a calligraphic engraver and etcher. Most of his etchings published there bear the French version of his name, Simon de Vries.
	Simon Frisius returned to Holland around 1605 and settled in the Hague several years later. In 1614, he enrolled there in the Guild of St. Luke. In Holland, Simon Wynhoutsz Frisius became much more productive as an etcher of portraits, landscapes, religious, historical and mythological subjects. The great artist and writer, Abraham Bosse, named Simon Frisius as the etcher to whom he was most indebted. In total, Simon Frisius's oeuvre consists of over two hundred and thirty original etchings.
	Hendrik Hondius: A Dutch publisher, designer and engraver, Hendrik Hondius studied art under Jan Wierix and Jan Fredeman de Vries. Hendrik Hondius first established his publishing house (Buitenhof Ten Huyse van Henricus Hondius) in the Hague in 1597. In the seventeenth century he also established publishing houses in both Amsterdam and Leiden.
	In his engravings and etchings, Hendrik Hondius concentrated upon portraiture. He engraved the portraits of such Reformers as Philipp Melanchthon, John Knox, Calvin and Savonarola, and of such fellow artists as Joost van Cleve, Joris Hoefnagel and Jan Mabuse. His son, Willem Hondius (1600-1652) was also a prominent portrait engraver.
	Hendrik Hondius’s portrayal of Hans Holbein was created in 1610. It is signed to the upper left (under the palette) with the artist’s monogram. As mentioned earlier, the drawing for this original etching is housed in the collection of the British Museum, London.
Source:	Pictorum aliquot celebrium praecipue Germaniae inferioris Effigies, the Hague, 1610.
Raisonnne:	F. W. H. Hollstein, Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts, ca. 1450-1700, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, Vol. VII. Hollstein - Frisius #28.
Size:	8 1/8 X 4 3/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Buy Now	Price: $695.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon early 17th century Laid paper and with margins extending around 1/2 inch from the plate-mark on all sides. Re-margined by a former owner in thick, wove paper. Signed in the plate with Hendrik Hondius's monogram to the upper left and bearing the full title and dedication in Latin along the lower margin. A fine, very early impression and in excellent condition throughout. "Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis)" represents a prime, original example of early seventeenth century Dutch etching.
Subject:	Simon Wynhoutsz Frisius, Simon Frisius, Simon de Vries, Hendrik Hondius, original etching, Portrait of Hans Holbein (Joannes Holbenus, Basilensis), Dance of Death, Pictorum aliquot celebrium praecipue Germaniae inferioris Effigies, early seventeenth century Dutch etching, Buitenhof Ten Huyse van Henricus Hondius.
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