12464 Johannes Stradanus (1523–1605) – Moorish Hunt for Ostriches – Engraving (1578)
"Strution insequitur celeri gens Maura molosso". This late sixteenth-century engraving depicts a dramatic ostrich hunt in North Africa. The central scene shows Moorish hunters on horseback, armed with long spears, pursuing the flightless birds across an arid landscape punctuated by palm trees. A pack of hunting dogs, identified in the text as molossians, assists in cornering an ostrich in the foreground. The composition emphasizes the speed and exoticism of the chase, highlighting the value placed on ostrich plumes, which the Latin inscription notes were used to adorn helmets as symbols of honor. This plate is part of the influential series Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium, published in Antwerp by Philip Galle.
Johannes Stradanus, born Jan van der Straet, was a Flemish artist who spent most of his career in Florence working for the Medici family. He was a versatile designer of tapestries, frescoes, and prints, known for his ability to synthesize Northern European detail with Italian Mannerist style. His most enduring legacy is the Venationes series, for which he provided the original drawings that were subsequently engraved by the skilled members of the Collaert and Galle workshops. Stradanus’s work was instrumental in popularizing natural history and sporting subjects across Europe during the Renaissance.
Artist or Maker: Jan Collaert II (Engraver); Johannes Stradanus (Artist).
Dimensions: Approximately 26 cm x 31 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1578.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 300 - 400 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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