12466 Marten de Vos (1532–1603) – The Feeding of the Five Thousand – Engraving (1585)
"Est puer unus hic qui habet quinque panes hordeaceos, et duos pisces". This late sixteenth-century engraving illustrates the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes as recorded in the Gospel of John. The composition focuses on the central figure of Christ surrounded by his disciples, with a young boy kneeling in the foreground offering the five barley loaves and two small fishes. In the middle ground, the vast multitude of people is shown seated in groups across the landscape, while the background reveals a distant city and mountainous horizon. The work displays the hallmarks of Flemish Mannerism, including elongated figures, complex drapery, and a deep, receding perspective. This plate was published in Antwerp as part of the monumental series Thesaurus veteris et novi Testamenti.
Marten de Vos was one of the most prolific and influential Antwerp painters and draughtsmen in the generation after Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Following a period of study in Italy, he returned to the Netherlands and became a leading figure in the Counter-Reformation art movement, producing numerous altarpieces and designs for prints. His work is characterized by a graceful, Italianate style combined with a Northern attention to narrative clarity. De Vos provided hundreds of drawings for the great publishing houses of Antwerp, particularly for the Galle and Collaert families, which were distributed throughout Europe and significantly shaped religious iconography.
Artist or Maker: Adriaen Collaert (Engraver); Marten de Vos (Artist).
Dimensions: Approximately 28 cm x 34 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1585.
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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