Two Plates, from: Landscapes with Biblical and Mythological scenes

These two landscapes are part of a series of twelve etchings made by Hieronymous Cock after drawings or possibly paintings by his elder brother Matthijs, according to Karel van Mander's Schilder-Boeck. Matthijs was a popular landscape painter active in Antwerp, who had died ten years before the publication of the series. Hieronymous Cock is mostly known as one of the most successful and influential print publishers of the 16th century. After a brief sojourn in Rome in 1546-47, he returned to his native Antwerp, married Volcxken Diericx, and together with her opened his print workshop and publishing house Aux Quatre Vents (In de Vier Winden). Some of the most popular series of prints after Bruegel and others were published there (see lots 116-120). After his death, his widow continued the business on her own and even added her name to some of the plates in their stock.
Occasionally, Hieronymous Cock ventured himself into etching and, amongst others, produced this remarkable series of Landscapes with Biblical and Mythological Scenes, which inspired contemporary artists across Europe, including Angelo Falconetto and Gherardo Cibo.