5448 - Cort, Cornelis—attributed

Cort, Cornelis—attributed Attributed. The Temptation of Virtue. Copperplate engraving after Jacopo Ligozzi. 42.8 x 28.8 cm. Not listed in Hollstein; Giorgio Marini: "Una Virtù moltiplicata: la diffusione dell’Allegoria di Jacopo Ligozzi tramite le stampe,” in: La Virtù del Principe. L’Allegoria di Jacopo Ligozzi, Florence 2015, p. 54. Mark: Crowned lily coat of arms. Marini considers the identification of the anonymous engraver as Cornelis Cort—a theory proposed as early as the 19th century (e.g., Weigel)—to be plausible, whereas the British Museum tentatively attributes the print to Johannes Sadeler I. Excellent print with a fine knurled edge around the plate margin. Dusty and showing handling marks, slight foxing, the center fold partially broken and repaired, an inconspicuous closed tear above the head of Virtue, isolated marginal defects, a repaired tear in the lower right corner, vertical creases in the upper corners, other signs of handling; otherwise in good condition. Rare. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.