Mulier Generosa Anglica, English Gentle Woman

Method Etching
Artist Wenceslaus Hollar
Published W. Hollar 1643
Dimensions Image 83 x 62 mm, Plate 95 x 63 mm, Sheet 147 x 87 mm
Notes English title to left of image: English Gentle Woman

A plate from Wenceslaus Hollar's Aula Veneris. The print shows a full length depiction of a lady standing turned slightly left wearing a dark hood tied under her chin, a dark shoulder wrap, and a white apron over her dark dress, gloved hands, and a feather fan at her side.

Aula Veneris sive Varietas Foeminini Sexus diversarum Europa or The Variety and Differences of the Female habits of the nations of Europe is an illustrated costume series produced by Wenceslaus Hollar during the mid to late 1640's. The series illustrates the various fashions of women from all over Europe and even some parts of Northern Africa. They cover all aspects of society from the country woman to the noblewoman from each of the nations. It is not known how many etchings were originally produced for the series, with no numbering and multiple states being produced in various languages including English, German and Dutch.

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) left his native Prague in 1627. He spent several years travelling and working in Germany before his patron, the Earl of Arundel brought him to London in 1636. During the civil wars, Hollar fought on the Royalist side, after which he spent the years 1644-52 in Antwerp. Hollar's views of London form an important record of the city before the Great Fire of 1666. He was prolific and engraved a wide range of subjects, producing nearly 2,800 prints, numerous watercolours and many drawings.

Pennington 1887 ii/iii (English Gentle:woman added), New Hollstein (German) 520 ii/vi (Hollar)

Condition: Slightly worn impression. On laid paper with lion watermark.
Framing unmounted
Price £90.00
Stock ID 52293

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