8. Pieter van der BORCHT (ca. 1535 - 1608)
The Large Wedding Feast - 1560 Etching, 365 to 367 mm x 505 to 510 mm (sheet). New Hollstein 172, 1st state (of 2). Impression of the 1st state (of 3; of 2 according to New Hollstein), with the date 1560 and before the reworks and censorship. Hans and Ursula Mielke (New Hollstein) describe two states: on impressions of the first state, as the one we present here, the date 1560 is engraved below Pieter van der Borcht’s signature in the upper left corner; this date is erased on impressions of the 2nd state. There are also impressions of an intermediate state printed from the plate yet with the date 1560 but which had already been reworked because it was worn-out and also in order to black out the two monks at the far left of the plate. On impressions from the 2nd and 3rd states, these two monks have been turned into ordinary peasants by adding hairs or a hat on their tonsure (see Hessel Miedema, p. 193). An impression of this intermediary state (or 2nd state of 3) has been sold by Christie’s on 25th January 2017 (described by mistake as an impression of the 1st state of 2). The address of the Antwerpian publisher Bartholomeus de Momper (1535-1597) is engraved on impressions of all three states. Very fine impression printed on laid watermarked paper : post-horn in a coat of arms, very similar to Briquet 7862 (Brabant 1593 and Middelbourg 1591) but larger (54 x 43 mm). Generally in very good condition. Three very small traingular losses of paper (10 x 10 mm, 10 x 3 mm and 7 x 3 mm) in the bottom corners and on the upper edge and two small tears (13 and 17 mm) on the bottom and upper edges of the sheet. A slight vertical trace of rubbing towards the center of the sheet.