Terms and conditions of use
The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds
1634
Medium
etching, burin and drypoint
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1933
Gallery location
Not on display
Artwork Details
Catalogue/s Raisonné
H.120.III,Holl44.III
Accession Number
7-4
Departments
International Prints / International Prints and Drawings
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of the Joe White Bequest
Watermarks
Watermark Form
Grapes
In Western culture the bunch of Grapes symbol is derived from the True Vine allegory, where Jesus describes himself as the 'true vine', his disciples as the 'fruit' and God as the 'husbandman'. The Grapes watermark is a common motif used in early Italian papers. It was also used by German papermakers and can be found in sheets of the Guttenberg Bible (among other watermarks). The motif was adopted and used by Swiss and French papermakers from the mid-fifteenth century through to the 17th century, often seen with letters above or below the mark. From the 17th century in France the watermark became a general mark, sometimes used as a countermark accompanied by the papermakers name or initials. In France the Grape or 'raisin' watermark became associated with a standard size, specifically three different sizes in 1741, and the term raisin is still used today for French paper dimensions.
Watermark and variant description
Grapes - variant G.a. Small bunch of grapes with a short stem, the bunch fits between the chain lines, with a word in the scroll below.
Completeness
complete
Chain Line Interval
28-32 mm
Laid Line Frequency
9-10/cm
Placement and spacing of wires
45 x ? [10|30|10] x 18
Wire Side
verso
Radiograph taken from
verso