BLOOTELING, Abraham
(1634-90):

St. Paul as an old Man, after Anthonie van Dyck

Mezzotint, 1680-90. Hollstein 216, second state with the letters “et Ex” erased
Watermark: Crowned coat-of-arms with fleur-de-lis
Provenance: A. Rossier (Lugt 168b) and H. Rossier (L. 1357)

A very fine impression with small margins all round, a couple of fox-marks in these.
355 x 270mm.
$3,500

 

 

A mezzotint of St. Peter by Blooteling after Moreelse in roughly the same size can be considered a companion piece, but if a series of apostles was intended it was never completed. The vivid depiction of emotion in the portrayal of a saint is outside the usual canon, though Van Dyck’s various busts of apostles share a certain intensity. Executed in the stark contrasts of mezzotint, Blooteling’s troubled St. Paul creates a particularly striking effect.