134 - Jacob de Backer (1608-1651) - The Five Senses - Complete series (5)

Jacob de Backer (1608-1651) - The Five Senses - Complete series (5) Description: The Five Senses. Complete series of five etchings, signed "Jacob de Backer invenit" and published by Joannes Meyssens, Antwerp ("Joannes Meyssens excudit Antwerpia"). Jacob Backer (1608–1651) was one of the leading Dutch painters and draughtsman of the Amsterdam school. Born in Harlingen, he trained in Leeuwarden with Lambert Jacobsz., alongside Govert Flinck, before settling in Amsterdam in 1633. Although traditionally associated with Rembrandt's circle, it remains uncertain whether he ever worked in Rembrandt's studio. Nevertheless, his early work clearly reflects Rembrandt's influence. Backer enjoyed considerable success in Amsterdam during the 1640s, before his early death at the age of forty-two .Dated works by Backer are rare and his chronology, especially as a draughtsman, is difficult to reconstruct. His drawings in chalk on blue paper are stylistically close to those by Flinck. Hollstein and the Rijksmuseum attribute both the invention and the etching of this series to de Backer, whereas the British Museum gives him only as the inventor. Dimensions: 14,90 x 19,10 cm Condition: A very fine and rare complete set, printed on dense laid paper bearing a fool's head watermark. Fine impressions, trimmed close to the plate mark with traces of the engraved borderline visible on all sheets; two impressions trimmed just inside the borderline, leaving only slight traces of the engraved border on two sides. A remarkably well-preserved and highly attractive set. Literature: Hollstein / Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts c.1450-1700 (de Backer) (1-5.II/II) --- Wurzbach 1-5 Provenance: Collection Stamp of F. BENSOW (born in 1883), officer and civil engineer, Norrköping (Lugt.982c) Medium: Etchings Date: Circa 1640-1650