Lot 11: Master MZ (active circa 1500-1503)

Master MZ (active circa 1500-1503)
The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine (B. 8; L. 9)
engraving, circa 1501, Bull's Head with Cross and Serpent watermark (Lehrs 21), a fine, early impression of this rare, large engraving, with many light wiping marks, trimmed on or just inside the platemark but retaining a fillet of blank paper outside the borderline all around, with several skilfully repaired tears and small paper losses in places, a vertical central crease, partially broken through and repaired
P., S. 314 x 260 mm.

Dr. J. Hofmann (1840-1913), Carlsbad and Vienna (L. 1264).

The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine is largest and apparently most popular print of this mysterious master: Lehrs knew about seventy impressions of which only twenty are early, such as the present one. Only five of these Lehrs considered first rate impressions.