Botany · 17th century
€ 380
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
strong impression on laid paper with wide margins and visible plate mark. Light age toning and a small stain near the lower margin, otherwise well-preserved.
Silenus in the Gardens of Louis XIII – Antique Mythological Engraving, c.1640
Fine 17th-century copperplate engraving titled Silenus in Hortis Ludovisianis (“Silenus in the Gardens of Louis”), engraved by Cornelis van Dalen (C. v. Dalen sculp.) around 1640. The print depicts the mythological figure Silenus, companion and tutor to Bacchus, reclining in a pastoral landscape with a large wine vessel beside him—an emblem of intoxication and rustic wisdom.
Silenus, often portrayed as an aged satyr with a corpulent body and a crown of ivy, embodies the joyful excess and philosophical irony of Bacchic mythology. Here he reclines in a wooded setting, his massive form rendered with remarkable anatomical precision and shading. In the background, a serpent coils around a tree, a subtle allusion to temptation and the duality of pleasure and vice.
The Latin title refers to the Horti Ludovisiani, or Gardens of the Ludovisi Palace in Rome, famous in the 17th century for their collection of ancient sculptures. Van Dalen’s engraving likely reproduces one of these celebrated antiquities, translating the classical marble into print with refined detail and tonal delicacy.
Cornelis van Dalen (c.1602–1665), active in Amsterdam and London, was among the finest Dutch engravers of his generation, known for his masterful portraits and interpretations of classical subjects. His work bridges the elegance of Dutch realism and the grandeur of Italianate form.
An evocative image that blends mythological subject matter with the humanist fascination for antiquity, making it a striking addition for collectors of early engravings or classical art.
Condition: Good, strong impression on laid paper with wide margins and visible plate mark. Light age toning and a small stain near the lower margin, otherwise well-preserved.
Framing tips: Ideal in a black or dark walnut frame with an ivory mat to enhance the sculptural quality of the engraving.
Technique: Copperplate engraving on laid paper
Maker: Cornelis van Dalen, Amsterdam, circa 1640
