RUBENS Peter Paul- Museum PLANTIN MORETUS - Max ROOSES ( preface & editor ) :
Reference : 55200
" Antwerpen, Imprimerie Plantinienne, 1877, in-f°, 46 x 35,5 cm, title printed in two colours with woodengraved vignet, 40 nn pp + 35 engraved plates, bound in a publisher's illustrated cased paper binding . (binding dustsoiled and a bit discoloured, some wear at the extremities, especially at top and end of spine - some loss of material here). Interior in perfect stainless condition. This prestigious publication, printed on heavy Dutch paper was published one year after the famous Plantin Press in Antwerp (now World Heritage) became a museum. The editor of this album, also the first curator of the museum collected from the rich holdings 35 engraved copper plates, These original plates were used to print the title pages of a series of 17t c. publications by the Plantin Press. 5 plates are portraits. The engravings are printed from the original copper plates by the master printer Buschmann.. Engravers are e.g.; Lucas Vorsterman, Cornelis Galle a.o.. The commentary by the curator of the Museum and eminent Rubens specialist is based on the rich archives of the museum and includes transcripts of the originals invoices of Rubens and the engravers for these beautiful baroque title pages and portraits. The sitters for the portraits are ; Leonardus Lessius , King Philip IV of Spain , Johan van Havre , Pope Urbanus VIII , Justus Lipsius. This unique reprint from the original plates , designed by Rubens, was certainly intended to put the museum and its rich contents into the eye of the art-and book lover. Modern conservation-and museum management practice surely prohibits forever a re-issue of this fine album."