Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 174: 16th C. Ghisi Engraving - Persian Sibyl by Michelangelo

Est: $4,000 USD - $6,000 USDPassed
Artemis GalleryLouisville, CO, USFebruary 21, 2019

Item Overview

Description

Engraver Giorgio Mantovano Ghisi (Italian, Mantua, ca. 1520-1582 Mantua) after Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, Caprese 1475-1564 Rome), "The Persicha Sibyl; from series of Prophets and Sibyls in the Sistine Chapel" (also Persian Sibl). Publisher: Nicolaus van Aelst (Flemish, Brussels 1526-1613, Rome). Ca. early 1570s CE - a 3rd or 4th state (of 5). A strong impression printed on fine laid paper with the watermark of an "anchor in a circle" - very close to Briquet #471, dated to 1527. Giorgio Ghisi’s detailed renderings, including this engraving of the Persian Sibyl, helped to make Michelangelo’s frescoes among the best-known High Renaissance monuments, despite the fact that they were difficult to access. Since the Sistine Chapel ceiling was too large to include on one sheet, Ghisi produced a series of oversize engravings of five sibyls and seven prophets. A strong impression of the Eritrean Sibyl sold for $7,000 at Sotheby's twenty years ago (see below). An incredibly engraving that rarely comes available! Size: sheet measures ~ 21.75" L x 16.875" W (55.2 cm x 42.9 cm)

Inscription: Inscribed in image on a tablet at center: "PERSICHA"; lower left: ".G.MAF. 1540 / Nic.o van aelst for. Romae"

See the Metropolitan Museum of Art's example [Accession Number 26.70.3 (3)] - Please notice that the Met example's impression seems to be of a similar quality to our example. The Met example is 2nd state; our example is certainly comparable and definitely dates to the 16th century according to an expert with whom we consulted.

Note that Giorgio Mantovano Ghisi's engraving of Michelangelo's "The Eritirean Sibyl", ca. 1570 sold for $7,000 at Sotheby's, New York, 11 May 1995, Lot 56.

Catalogue Raisonne: Boorsch, Lewis and Lewis 159.47.ii; Bellini 1979, p. 136; Bellini 1998, 85.17.ii; Bartsch XV.393.19; TIB 31[15], 55.19

As explained by Boorsch (in Boorsch, Lewis and Lewis 1985, p. 164) the dates of 1540 and 1549 engraved on some of the plates from the series is false. The plates should rather be dated to the early 1570s.

Watermark of "anchor in a circle" may be found in Charles Molse Briquet, "Les Filigranes: Dictionnaire Historique Des Marques De Papier Des Leur Apparition Vers 1282 Jusqu'uen 1600" - illustrated in figures 471 and 472, descriptions on pp. 454-478. As noted, the watermark on the fine laid paper of this engraving is very close to #471 which is dated to 1527.

For further information: Adam von Bartsch Le Peintre graveur. Vienna, 1803, cat. no. 19, p. 393.

TIB The Illustrated Bartsch. Abaris Books, 1978–, cat. no. 19, p. 55, ill.

Paolo Bellini "Incisioni di Giorgio Ghisi" Rassegna di studi e di notizie. 7, 1979, p. 136.

Suzanne Boorsch, R. E. Lewis, Michal Lewis The Engravings of Giorgio Ghisi. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1985, cat. no. 47.ii, p. 159, ill.

Paolo Bellini L'opera incisa di Giorgio Ghisi. Bassano del Grappa, 1998, cat. no. 17.ii, p. 85, ill.

Provenance: private Lucille Lucas collection, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#134183

Condition Report

Note that when looking at the verso of this engraving, one can see that the ink actually cones through the fine paper. This is a sign of a superb impression according to an expert with whom we consulted!A few printing creases above the Sibyl. A stain to base of metope to left of Sibyl. Some old repairs on the verso. Still a very strong impression and quite rare.

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Auction Details

Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

by
Artemis Gallery
February 21, 2019, 07:00 AM PST

686 S. Taylor Ave., #108, Louisville, CO, 80027, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

24.5%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$299$25
$300$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000$199,999$10,000
$200,000+$25,000

Antiquities, Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art

Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. These terms are applicable to all bidders in this auction, collectors and dealers alike.

1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

2. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise.

3. HIGH and LOW ESTIMATES are provided for each lot for reference only. All lots will be offered without any hidden / confidential reserve, meaning the highest bidder wins.

4. No lots will be released / shipped until payment has been made in full. Payment (in U.S. funds) may be made via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, AMEX), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. For PayPal payments please use "artemisgallery@gmail.com" email address for processing payments.

5. BUYER'S PREMIUM: A 24.5% Buyer's Premium will be added to the final price of each lot purchased through Artemis Gallery and will be paid by all bidders without exception.

6. CO SALES TAX: Appropriate Colorado Sales Tax will be added to all invoices, unless a valid CO seller's permit is on file with Artemis Gallery/Artemis Gallery Live prior to any bidding in the auction. Items shipped outside of CO (United States or international) are also sales tax exempt.

7. RETURN POLICY: In the event of an authenticity dispute, written notification of the dispute must be provided to Artemis Gallery within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. After Artemis Gallery is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented. If Artemis Gallery concludes that the assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned.

In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned.

If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 15 days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data for Artemis Gallery to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 15 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Gallery. The item must be returned to Artemis Gallery at the buyer's expense and a refund or credit of the item price and buyer's premium (if applicable) will be provided after the item is returned. Original shipping charges will not be refunded.

All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Gallery in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 90 days from the date of delivery.

8. SHIPPING: As a convenience to our buyers, shipping is handled in-house. All buyers will receive an invoice detailing their purchases, sales tax (if applicable), buyer's premium, and shipping/insurance charges. Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value.

**For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country; this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. Also, please be aware that Artemis Gallery will NOT falsify customs value on any international shipments - what you pay is what we declare, no exceptions. There are a small number of international countries we cannot ship to. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding**

9. REQUEST TO DELAY SHIPPING FOR LOTS WON: We are happy to delay shipping on all paid lots for up to 30 days with no storage fees. After 30 days, storage fees will accrue based on a 2% of invoice total.

10. In the event a successful bidder fails to make payment when due, Artemis Gallery reserves the right to re-sell the merchandise and bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable cost of such a sale and to pay any difference between the resale price and the previously successful bid, together with any incidental costs of sale and disbursements.

11. If the auction invoice is not paid for in full when due per invoice terms, including any applicable credit card processing fees, the unpaid balance will bear interest at the highest rate permitted by law until paid in full. If the matter is referred to an attorney for collection, bidder agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other collection cost incurred by Artemis Gallery to collect past due invoices and that the services of process by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, shall be sufficient to confer "in personam" jurisdiction over bidder.

12. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado.

13. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction.

Shipping Terms

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense