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Coat of Arms of the City of Leyden in a Circle, Surrounded by Four Putti in Circles
Coat of Arms of the City of Leyden in a Circle, Surrounded by Four Putti in Circles

Coat of Arms of the City of Leyden in a Circle, Surrounded by Four Putti in Circles

Artist Lucas van Leyden Dutch, ca. 1494 - 1533
Dateca. 1510
MediumEngraving, laid paper
DimensionsSheet: 3 1/8 x 4 1/8 in. (8 x 10.5 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineGift in memory of Leon H. and Marie Buttlar Sparling by their family
Object number2009.7
On View
Not on view
Collections
  • Works on Paper
SignedEngraved "L" with a short cross-bar on the upright, about 1/2" above the bottom, slightly to the left of center.
MarkingsOn the verso two collectors stamps: 1= stamped in black ink on the bottom edge, left of center "Dr. Herweg" in sans serif printed letters; 2 = stamped in purple ink, an entwined letter cypher with a crown above. Dr Karl Herweg is noted as a "distinguished collector of old master prints" in the cataloging of a St. Matthew van Leyden print that was once in Herweg's collection and offered for sale by Harris Schrank Fine Prints. Source:http://harrisschrank.com/saint-matthew.htm [accessed 1/21/2010, copy in file]
DescriptionFive circles or roundels, the center one somewhat smaller than the four that flank it. Two to the right, two to the left, above and below, in a rectangular format.

The center roundel contains a coat of arms with crossed keys, the emblem of the city of Leyden (Leiden), pendant from a hook and angled with the right upper corner below the left .

Each of the four surrounding roundels features a winged putti with an attribute of a coat of arms. The upper right putti is seated on an earthen ledge and leans forward on a staff held in his right hand while using his left hand to balance the top edge of a blank shield or escutcheon that is standing on its bottom point, on the ground. He wears a carelessly assembled crown of leafy branches on his head. The lower right putti stands with his legs straddling a blank banderole that he holds with one end in his lowered right hand and the other in his raised left hand and scrolling over his shoulders. The upper left putti stands in contrappposto embracing a large armored helmet (helm in heraldry) that he seems to be removing from a block. The lower left putti is sitting on a large helmet, leaning forward and prising the visor with both his hands.

The title is as given in The New Hollstein (see Biblio)

Exhibition History"Old Master Prints from the Sparling Family Collection", Hoopes Gallery, The Hyde Collection, February 28 - May 24, 2009.

"Growing Up in a Renaissance Palazzo: Childhood in Italy 1400-1600," Charles R. Wood Gallery, The Hyde Collection, Oct. 5, 2024-Jan. 5, 2025.ProvenanceCollectors stamp of Dr. Karl Herweg (see Marks). Unknown crowned purple cypher collectors stamp. Purchased from Harris Schrank Fine Prints, New York, N.Y., February 19, 2008, Collection of Tobin Sparling, Houston, TX; gift to The Hyde Collection, 2009.