Acquired From: Leen Helmink
Colouring: Uncoloured
Condition: Good
Confirmed: 3/10/2024
Date Acquired: 7/6/2018
Description: Johannes Sadeler I was a draftsman, engraver, and publisher who moved to Antwerp in 1572 and collaborated closely with Marten de Vos over many years. One of their most notable joint works is a famous series that features representations of the seven celestial bodies known at the timeMercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Earth (with its moon), and the Sun. The engravings in this series depict the planets as allegorical figures riding in chariots across the sky, surrounded by layers of clouds. Below each celestial representation is a riverscape populated by "planet-children," symbolic figures born under each planet's astrological sign. nThe title page of the series, dated precisely to August 1585, relates to a significant contemporary event: the fall of Antwerp to the governor of the Spanish Netherlands, Alessandro Farnese (15451592), to whom the series is dedicated. This event marked the return of the southern Netherlands to Spanish Catholic rule. The astrological theme of the engravings seems to imply that the conquest of Antwerp was perhaps "written in the stars," an inescapable twist of fate.nIn these images, De Vos personifies each planet with its corresponding Classical god, set amidst a vibrant allegorical pageant, accompanied by the appropriate Zodiac signs. The drawings by de Vos were engraved by Johannes Sadeler I and published in Antwerp in 1585.n Sol (the Sun) is depicted riding in a chariot drawn by four horses through the clouds. Below, various ceremonies unfold, including the crowning of a king, the anointing of a pope, and a triumphal procession through an arch. The zodiac sign of Leo appears in an oval at the top center.n Luna (the Moon), personified by the goddess Diana, is shown carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows, riding a chariot drawn by two nymphs across the sky above a vast marine landscape with ships and fishing vessels below. The zodiac sign of Cancer is in an oval at the top center.n Mercury, represented by the god of travel, holds a caduceus and rides a chariot drawn by two birds. Below him lies a wide landscape with a harbor filled with bountiful goods. The zodiac signs of Gemini and Virgo are shown in ovals in the top corners.n Venus, represented by the goddess of love, rides in a chariot drawn by two peacocks, while below is a rich landscape dotted with prosperous towns. The zodiac signs of Libra and Taurus appear in ovals at the top corners.n Mars, personified by the god of war, is shown in armor, riding a chariot drawn by two horses along a road of clouds. Below, an expansive landscape includes grand buildings, highwaymen, and soldiers. The zodiac signs of Capricorn and Scorpio are shown in ovals in the top corners.n Jupiter, holding thunderbolts, rides in a chariot drawn by two eagles through the clouds. Below, a wide landscape with numerous buildings and small rocky islands is depicted. The zodiac signs of Sagittarius and Pisces are in ovals at the top corners.n Saturn, depicted with a scythe, sits in a chariot drawn by two dragons. Below, a landscape is populated by figures engaged in various industries, including mining. The zodiac signs of Aries and Aquarius are shown in ovals at the top corners.nThis series is a captivating combination of astrology, mythology, and allegory, with each engraving reflecting the celestial influence of the planets on human affairs and the natural world.
Engraver: Sadeler I, Johannes (1550-1600)
First published: Antwerp: 1585
Mapmaker: Vos, Martin de (1532-1603)
Other states: after Marten de Vos
Price: 7,500
Primary Category: Book/Atlas
Purchase Reference: Ledger 2022
Rarity: R1 Extremely rare – occasionally seen on the market
Technique: Copper Engraving
This state: 1585
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