The original, complete copperplate was initially owned by an unknown person in Holland and sold around 1775 to the painter and etcher John Greenwood, who resold it the same year to Capt. William Baillie (1723-1810). He heavily reworked and adapted the plate and printed about 100 copies of it. He then cut the plate in four pieces. Separate prints of these were made and published by Boydell. Each individually quite interesting prints. None of the plates has survived.
Rarity of impressions
In auctions (2000-2025): extremely rare Late: 2 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
In collections (New Hollstein – 2013): extremely rare Late: 11 ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿⦿
Nowell-Usticke: The four separate pieces into which the plate was finally cut, are quite rare and good looking.
Story
The original, complete etching shows the story of Matthew XIX. The Pharisees, with whom Jesus has a debate about marriage and divorce (verses 3 till 12). Then, with his hand before his mouth, the rich young man whom He advised to sell his worldly goods to help the poor (verses 16 till 26). The camel at right refers to the quote by Jesus that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gate of heaven (verse 24). Peter is positioned to the left of Christ, with whom he discusses at the end of the chapter (verses 27 till 30). Then there are the children that He asked to come towards Him (verses 13 and 14) and finally the lame woman which He heals (verses 1 and 2). According to Tümpel the running boy refers to verse 29.
However, there are also other interpretations. Hofsteede de Groot sees a portrait of Socrates in the person next to Jesus and Erasmus in the man behind Him. They are supposedly a reflection of the old, respectively the new wisdom. Some scholars see many more references to other parts of the Gospels.
New Hollstein: 4th and final state/White-Boon: 2nd and final state.
A good impression of the largest of the four fragments.
Sheet 296 x 210 mm, platemark 277 x 192 mm (532 cm2), narrow margins of 3 to 5 mm all around (+ 17%).
No watermark, no chain lines visible.