Lot 11: JORIS HOEFNAGEL | An Allegory of the Struggle between Avarice and Ambition

Pen and black ink and gouache, heightened with gold, on vellum laid down on paper, and then panel;
dated, top centre: 1571, and signed and dated, lower border (faintly legible): GEORGIUS HOEFNAGLE INVENTOR FACIEBAT ANTWERPIAE A^o CIƆIƆLXXI. ARTIS NATURA MAGISTRA;
extensively inscribed in Latin:
(in cartouche, top centre) QUID NON MORTALIA PECTORA COGIS / AVRI SACRA FAMES ET HONORV DIRA CUPIDO?; (in border, top left) INFANS INGREDITUR and PUER ADOLESCIT; (in border, top right) JUVENIS FLORESCIT and VIR SENESCIT; (in border, lower right) SENEX FLACESSCIT and DECREPITUS OCCVMBIT; (in border, lower left) MORTVVS PVTESCIT and SPS REVIVISCIT; (in a scroll below the cartouche) MEDIOCRITAS; (on the left fighting man's shield) Hic vi ac ferro; (on the right fighting man's shield) Ille dolo et astu;
most of these inscriptions transcribed in a later hand (possibly 19th century) on a sheet of paper fixed to the reverse of the panel

167 by 214 mm

Pen and black ink and gouache, heightened with gold, on vellum laid down on paper, and then panel;<br />dated, top centre: <em>1571, </em>and signed and dated, lower border (faintly legible): <em>GEORGIUS HOEFNAGLE INVENTOR FACIEBAT ANTWERPIAE A^o CIƆIƆLXXI. ARTIS NATURA MAGISTRA</em>;<br />extensively inscribed in Latin:<br />(in cartouche, top centre) <em>QUID NON MORTALIA PECTORA COGIS / AVRI SACRA FAMES ET HONORV DIRA</em> CUPIDO?; (in border, top left) <em>INFANS INGREDITUR </em>and<em> PUER ADOLESCIT</em>; (in border, top right) <em>JUVENIS FLORESCIT </em>and <em>VIR SENESCIT</em>; (in border, lower right) <em>SENEX FLACESSCIT </em>and <em>DECREPITUS OCCVMBIT</em>; (in border, lower left) <em>MORTVVS PVTESCIT </em>and <em>SPS REVIVISCIT</em>; (in a scroll below the cartouche) <em>MEDIOCRITAS</em>;<em> </em>(on the left fighting man's shield) <em>Hic vi ac ferro</em>; (on the right fighting man's shield) <em>Ille dolo et astu</em>;<br />most of these inscriptions transcribed in a later hand (possibly 19th century) on a sheet of paper fixed to the reverse of the panel  <em> </em>

The vellum is support is laid down on a wooden panel, with the edges of the vellum wrapped around the edges of the wood. This is very likely the original panel backing. Some unevenness and wrinkling of the vellum at the edges, especially in bottom left corner. Some light abrasion to the surface, towards the extreme edges, and in the area of the signature, lower margin. Various very small pigment losses throughout. colours generally good and strong. Sold in a dark wood 17th-century style frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

London, Burlington Fine Arts Club, Elizabethan Art, 1926, no. III.4 (lent by Mrs. Norman-Butler);
on loan to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, March 1991-January 2015

P. Norman, 'On an Allegorical Painting in Miniature by Joris (George) Hoefnagel, and some other works by this artist,' Archaeologia, LVII (1901), pp. 321-325, illustrated Pl. XLIV;
L. van Puyvelde, The Flemish Drawings in the Collection of His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle, London 1942, p. 16, under no. 52;
C. White and C. Crawley, The Dutch and Flemish Drawings at Windsor Castle, Cambridge 1994, p. 38, under no. 53;
C. White, Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, exh. cat., Raleigh, North Carolina Museum of Art, et. al., 1994, under no. 13, illustrated

Miss Isobel Akers (c.1853-1903),
by descent to her niece, Sibella Akers Norman-Butler (1876-1940),
by descent to the present owner