12556 Jan van der Straet (1523–1605), after – Troglodytes Hunting Elephants with Axes – Engraving (1596)
"Troglodytæ insidiis Elephantem fallere docti" This work provides a visual study of a legendary hunting method attributed to the Troglodytes, featuring figures leaping from trees to hamstring elephants with axes and swords. The engraving was published in Antwerp by Philip Galle as part of the Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium, a celebrated series documenting various hunting and fishing methods from around the world. The composition illustrates a tropical landscape where hunters utilize the dense foliage and height of palm trees to launch ambush attacks on the large mammals. This plate reflects the late Renaissance fascination with ethnographic lore and the exoticism of distant lands, blending traveler accounts with the period's characteristic Mannerist artistic style.
Jan van der Straet, also known as Stradanus, was a Flemish artist who spent most of his productive 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 technical detail with Italian Mannerist style. His collaboration with the printmaking workshops of Antwerp, particularly that of Philip Galle, allowed his complex narrative designs to reach a vast European audience. Stradanus is best remembered for his encyclopedic series of prints that categorized scientific discoveries, historical events, and regional hunting customs.
Artist or Maker: Jan van der Straet, Jan Collaert II, and Philip Galle.
Dimensions: Approximately 20 cm x 26 cm.
Medium: Engraving.
Date: 1596.
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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