• Title : Heliogravure et imp. A. Durand_Paris
• Size: 13 1/2in x 9 1/2in (345mm x 240mm)
• Condition: (A+) Fine Condition
• Date : 1870
• Ref #:  22443

Description:
This fine, original antique Heliograph of St. George Liberating the Princess by Lucas Van Leyden (1494 - 1533) in 1508 was re-engraved and published by Charles Amand-Durand in 1870.
These faithful re-engravings of classic and historical wood-cuts were faithfully re-issued by Amand-Durand in Paris in the mid to late 19th century. Such is the quality of his re-strikes that Durands prints are now in major institutional collections such a the Louvre, National Gallery, The Met and many other famous Galleries. Please see below for further background on Amand-Durand.

General Definitions:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color : - off white
Age of map color: -
Colors used: -
General color appearance: -
Paper size: - 13 1/2in x 9 1/2in (345mm x 240mm)
Plate size: - 8in x 6in (205mm x 1530mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None

Background: 
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 1533), also named either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, was a Dutch engraver and painter. He was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and is generally regarded as a very accomplished engraver.
Lucas was the son of Huygh Jacobsz. and was mainly active in Leiden.
Carel van Mander characterizes Lucas as a tireless artist, who as a child annoyed his mother by working long hours after nightfall, which she forbid not only for the cost of candlelight, but also because she felt that too much study was bad for his sensibilities. According to Van Mander, as a boy he only consorted with other young artists, such as painters, glass-etchers and goldsmiths, and was paid by the Heer van Lochorst (Johan van Lockhorst of Leiden, who died in 1510) a golden florin for each of his years at age 12 for a watercolor of St. Hubert.
From 1513 to 1517, Lucas created a series of woodcuts called The Power of Women which consisted of two large and small sets of prints. The series is one of a number of representations of the Power of Women theme, which was extremely popular in Renaissance art and literature. Artworks in the genre depict the traditional roles of men and women in inverse, with women dominating over men in various situations. The subjects illustrated often consist of legendary historical women who were considered to be virtuous heroines as well as women who were considered cunning, seductive, and manipulative of men. The purpose of the Power of Women theme was to demonstrate that even the strongest and wisest of men were not resistant to the sexuality of women.

The legend of Saint George and the Dragon describes the saint taming and slaying a dragon that demanded human sacrifices; the saint thereby rescues the princess chosen as the next offering.