Views around Brussels.

10 (of 24) engravings, 13,5 x 20 cm, laid paper (some minor stains, occ. foxing).

All under passe-partout and gilt frames.

Nice collection of 1st states of Collaert's views around Brussels. Later editions by C.C. Visscher ascribed authorship to Hans Bol, but also Jacob Grimmer is suggested as possible "inventor". The views represent villages, castles, and abbeys in an intimate, direct manner based closely on studies from life. Their naturalistic approach differs from that of the imaginary, mythological panoramas produced by Italian landscape artists of the period. By publishing regional landscapes Van Luyck met the needs of a clientele which was increasingly interested in regional geography; a taste first generated by Hieronymus Cock in 1560. The present lot includes Etterbeek, "den groote vaarweg van Elsen(e)", "Sint-Gielijs tot Brussel", "Ter Sijden Laken", "Thof van Brussel", "Over Meulen", "Elsen(e)", "Sint-Jacobs te Caroloo", "achter Schaerbeke", "Stal van Hoven". The first unnumbered state published by Hans Van Luyck in Antwerp.
Ref. Hollstein IV:149-172.1. - A. Diels, "Wat d'yser can bemaelen. Prenten van de Antwerpse graveurs familie Collaert (1550-1630)", Bruxelles, 2005, cat. 12.