Terms and conditions of use
The Baptism of the Eunuch
1641
Medium
etching
Measurements
17.8 × 21.2 cm (sheet, trimmed to platemark)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1933
Gallery location
Not on display
Artwork Details
Catalogue/s Raisonné
Bartsch 9; Hind 182 ii/ii; White & Boon 98 ii/ii
Edition
2nd of 2 states
Accession Number
33-4
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
Seven provinces
The Seven provinces watermark depicts a rampant lion that represents the German dynasty, House of Nassau. The lion holds a sword in one paw and seven arrows in the other, and the arrows represent the Seven United Provinces or the Dutch Republic. This paper, like many of the period, would likely have been made in South-West France for the Dutch market. The watermark motif became common during the mid 17th century and in time developed changes, depicting a spear instead of a sword and the text 'Vryheit' below. The watermark further evolved to depict the figure of Hollandia with the text 'Pro Patria', from which it became known as the Pro Patria watermark, used by Holland papermakers throughout the 18th century, while also imported for use in England.
Watermark and variant description
Seven provinces - variant A'.a.a. Lion rampant, one forepaw holding a sabre, the other seven arrows. The initials BM below, double-wired. Chain line through the centre of the watermark.
Closely related watermark references
Churchill 118 (1707);
Heawood 3142 (c. 1698);
Voorn 92 (1699);
Nicolai, pl. LXXXVII, nos. 1-2 (M. Bonneau).
Completeness
complete
Chain Line Interval
21-22 mm
Laid Line Frequency
10/cm
Placement and spacing of wires
115 x 3 [20|21|21|19] x 3
Wire Side
recto
Radiograph taken from
verso