Christ and the woman of Samaria

This engraving, made and published by Crispijn van de Passe the Elder (c. 1564-1637) in c. 1600, is based on an earlier work, probably a painting, by the important German artist Johann Rottenhammer, who worked with Paul Bril and Jan Breughel the elder, and possibly employed Adam Elsheimer as a studio assistant. A drawing by Rottenhammer that is closely related to this engraving was sold at Sotheby's, London (8 July 2015, lot 15). Crispijn van de Passe was the founder of a dynasty of engravers, who worked in Antwerp, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Cologne - where this print was made. It depicts the well-known theme of Christ and the Woman of Samaria. The engraving is in the so-called King George IV album of Old Master prints, acquired by the Dominion Museum in 1910.

See: Sotheby's, 'Old Master & British Drawings', http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.15.html/2015/old-master-british-drawings-l15040

Dr Mark Stocker      Curator, Historical International Art      March 2017