Lot 587: Jacob Esselens (Amsterdam 1626-1687)

Jacob Esselens (Amsterdam 1626-1687)
View of Le Balze di Volterra with the church of SS. Giusto e Clemente beyond
pen and brown ink, pen and black ink framing lines, watermark foolscap
7¾ x 11¼ in. (19.7 x 28.5 cm.)

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The Balze di Volterra are a series of imposing crags near the town of Volterra in Italy, created by natural erosion. In the early 17th Century, a landslide on this site had destroyed the ancient church of S. Giusto in Botro and the church visible in Esselens's drawing is the present church of SS. Giusto e Clemente, built as a replacement. Construction on SS. Giusto e Clemente began in 1628 and, although it seems to have been relatively complete when Esselens visited the area, it was not consecrated until the 18th Century.