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拍品專文
Israhel van Meckenem was one of the most prolific engravers of the late 15th century, who produced a great number of very accomplished copies after prints by earlier and contemporary German artists, including the Master of the Berliner Passion, the Master E.S., Martin Schongauer and even the young Albrecht Dürer. Although copies make up for the majority of his production, he was at his creative best in engravings of his own design, mostly secular works which betray a great humanity, at times even subversiveness (see also the following lot).
This very rare and delightful print of monkeys has been understood as an allegorical work, as monkeys and apes were seen as emblems of unbridled lust and desires. However, the careful observation of the two monkeys gently touching each others faces undermines such a moralistic interpretation.
The present sheet is the upper side of a two-part image. Divided by a borderline, the lower part of the sheet shows a family of two unchained monkeys with their three young seated by broken off branch of a fruit tree, from which they are feeding.
Another, closely related plate (Hollstein 497) once again shows two chained monkeys on the top, one of which appears to be sleeping while the other tenderly touches its head. The lower part depicts two monkeys playing with a box of toiletries, from which they have taken a small mirror and a brush. This could be read as an allegory of vanity, but one wonders who is more foolish, humans or monkeys.
Only one other of his monkey prints, a silhouetted impression of the same segment as the present one, has been offered at auction in over thirty years.
This very rare and delightful print of monkeys has been understood as an allegorical work, as monkeys and apes were seen as emblems of unbridled lust and desires. However, the careful observation of the two monkeys gently touching each others faces undermines such a moralistic interpretation.
The present sheet is the upper side of a two-part image. Divided by a borderline, the lower part of the sheet shows a family of two unchained monkeys with their three young seated by broken off branch of a fruit tree, from which they are feeding.
Another, closely related plate (Hollstein 497) once again shows two chained monkeys on the top, one of which appears to be sleeping while the other tenderly touches its head. The lower part depicts two monkeys playing with a box of toiletries, from which they have taken a small mirror and a brush. This could be read as an allegory of vanity, but one wonders who is more foolish, humans or monkeys.
Only one other of his monkey prints, a silhouetted impression of the same segment as the present one, has been offered at auction in over thirty years.