202 - Julius Goltzius - Rare 1586 Papal Indulgence Broadside for the Diocese of Antwerp – Pope Sixtus V

Julius Goltzius - Rare 1586 Papal Indulgence Broadside for the Diocese of Antwerp – Pope Sixtus V Description: An authentic late 16th-century religious broadside or decree issued in 1586 during the second regnal year of Pope Sixtus V (Sanctissimus Dominus Noster Dominus Sixtus V Papa). The Latin text grants a vast treasury of papal indulgences (ingentem thesaurum indulgentiarum) to the faithful associated with the Franciscan Order (instituti fratrum minorum sancti Francisci), conditioned upon formal confession and devotion to Jesus Christ. This specific contemporary copy features a prominent dedicatory inscription in the lower-left margin to Laevinus Torrentius (Lieven van der Beke, 1525–1595), the celebrated humanist scholar, diplomat, and second Bishop of Antwerp (Episcopo Antuerpiensi), who took office in 1586. At the center stands Saint Francis of Assisi demonstrating the strength of the Franciscan cord (the cincture) while the kneeling figure represent Pope Sixtus V, himself a Franciscan. The inscription “Thesaurus Ecclesiae” (“Treasure of the Church”) refers to the spiritual wealth and authority of the Church. The print is signed Julius Goltzius fecit bottom left and Ad S Hub exc bottom right. Date 1586 bottom middle. --- Very rare engraving, I could not trace another copy. Dimensions: 33,00 x 22,00 cm Condition: Good impression on laid paper. Vertical fold above the text line, torn and reinforced on the verso with thin Japanese paper. Margin defects at the lower left corner. This is a large sheet and, overall, the condition is good; and in this colored version especially attractive. Medium: Engraving Date: 1586