Albert van der Helle

Date: 1538
Medium: Engraving on laid paper
Dimensions: 195 x 126 mm. 7 3/4 x 5 in.
Reference: Bartsch 186; New Hollstein 186, first state of two, before “DLR” changed to “DER”
Watermark: Double-headed eagle under crown, similar to Briquet 252
Provenance: Pierre Mariette II (1634-1716, Paris), with his ink inscription verso, dated to 1670 (Lugt 1788/9);
Nikolaj Mossoloff (1847-1914, Moscow), with his ink inscription verso, dated to 1883 (Lugt 1802);
C. G. Boerner, Leipzig (April 19, 1931, this impression cited in Hollstein’s census of sales);
Albert W. Blum (1882-1952, Switzerland and Short Hills, New Jersey) (Lugt 79b);
Sotheby’s New York (February 27, 1988, Lot 1171); Christie’s New York (January 25, 2017, Sale 14020, Lot 71); David Tunick, Inc.
Impression: Very fine, comparable to the two slightly stronger Metropolitan Museum impressions. In all three – the Metropolitan impressions and ours – certain areas, e.g., the top of the hat and the right shoulder, vary in darkness and clarity
Condition: Excellent apart from a thin replaced margin at the bottom and lower left. Far superior in condition to the two Metropolitan impressions, which have major restoration