ENGRAVING OF ST. PETER AND ST. JOHN IN THE TEMPLE. 16TH CENTURY

Description:
- Engraving representing St. Peter and St. John in the temple, helping a lame man to get up.
- The scene is from the 'Acts of the Apostles', Chapter 3, Verse 1.
- Intaglio etching on copperplate, printed on very fine paper of poor quality, in single-colour black tone, very good ink and very good printing.
- In the lower left-hand corner are the signatures of the draughtsman Maarten van Heemskerck (1498-1574), the engraver Philipe Galle (1537-1612) and the printer Hieronymus Cock (1510-1570). The number 1 appears in the same corner. All of them were artists of great renown and high standing, and their work is preserved in various museums.
- On the lower side there is a separate band with the legend 'Petrus cum Ioanne in templum ascendens claudum fanat', which could be translated as 'Peter with John on the ascent to the temple helping a lame man'. On the far right-hand side is the notation 'act, ch. 3'.
- On the back is the pencilled notation 'Story of SS Peter & John. Set 6. Holl 96. 186 slate'.
- All signatures are inside the plate, including the lower legend.
- The artistic quality and execution, as well as the great ease with which the luminosity coming from the upper left corner has been used to achieve a strong and lively effect, dominating the chiaroscuro.
- Extreme care has been taken with all the details, as well as the blurring according to the depth, achieving a perfect and very natural effect.
- It transmits serenity to the spectator, at the same time as contemplating a scene with a magnificent result.
- It is probably an engraving from a book.

Conservation and Damage:
- General condition: Good.
- It has no margins, which makes it more vulnerable.
- As the engraving is printed on very thin paper of poor quality, several patches have had to be applied in order to protect it from progressive deterioration.
- The engraving is slightly dirty, with small tears and slight bending.
- The engraving shows deterioration typical of it,s age.

Comments:
- Measurements are approximate.
- Ideal engraving as a decorative element.
- The tones of the colours in the photos are not equal to the tones of the real colours.
- The Engraving for sale is the one that corresponds to the photos. The description is not a detailed exposition of it.
- The data provided here are personal opinions not contrasted.