The capture of Carthagena.

Engraving, 41,7 x 55,5 cm, laid paper with unidentified watermark, signed and dated ".IULIUS.ROMANS. / .INVENTOR.", "GP" and ".GEORGIUS.PENCZ. / .PICTOR.NURNBERG. / FACIEBAT.ANNO.M.D. / . [XI scratched out] XXXIX.", address "Nico Van aelst formis / Romae" (flattened vertical fold at centre, very sl. browned at upper right, some foxing and few tears in margin).

Good impression with wide margins. Good condition.

Large engr. by Georg Pencz (c. 1500-1550) from 1539 after a drawing in Paris (Louvre, inv. 3720). The battle of Cartagena in Spain was originally part of the tapestry series on "The triumph of Scipio Africanus" designed by Giulio Romano (c. 1492-1546) for Francis I, King of France. This impression from the ed. published by Nicolas van Aelst (c. 1526-1613) in Rome. According to Bartrum "Pencz's complete mastery of the technique is most clearly seen in the subtle way he engraves varying thicknesses of lines and dots to different degrees of depth, in order to achieve a strong contrast between foreground and background".
Ref. Hollstein German XXXI.173-174.76.V (of VII). - G. Bartrum, German Renaissance prints 1490-1550, London 1995, pp. 117-119, 110.