Menu

De Gheyn - Excercise of ArmsDe Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
Click to enlarge

More Views

  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms
  • De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms

De Gheyn - Excercise of Arms

Item Code: xxan55




Quick Overview

Bookmark and Share
Jacob de Gheyn II - Exercise of Arms

Details

GHEYN (JACOB de) -  The Exercise of Arms, for Calivres, Muskettes and Pikes,

3 parts in one volume, 117 engraved plates, English captions written beneath all plates in ink (plates complete, but lacks general title, some corners torn away and repaired, occasional light browning and staining), contemporary panelled calf gilt.

Armorial bookplate of George John Earl de la Warr
and bookplate of R. T. Gwynn, folio,

According to the letter of Francis Edwards LTD dating November 17th, 1943 this is from the rare English edition of 1608. The Edwards firm quoted the English edition 2,5 times the prices of the French edition from 1608 they also had to offer.(Letter of sale to R.J.Gwynn, Esq.) The title page was defected.

This same work was later sold by Christy's in 2001 but then already without the defected title page.

I offer this work for sale together with the title page of the French edition.

Perhaps the most famous manual of arms ever published, this work was first published in 1607 and depicts the uniforms, weaponry and firearms of the 17th century Netherlands and the training methods used by the army of the day.'

Jacob de Gheyn's 'Exercise of Armes' was an immense success when first published in 1607. It is a fascinating seventeenth-century military manual, designed to instruct contemporary soldiers how to handle arms effectively, and correctly, and it makes for a unique glimpse into warfare as waged in the Thirty Years War and the English Civil War. The manual uses illustrations to clearly demonstrate drills for soldiers employing calivers and muskets. It shows how to load and fire, or merely carry, a matchlock piece. In addition detailed illustrations show the various movements and postures to be adopted during use of the pike. There are 117 illustrations contained in this book and all are fine examples of seventeenth-century art.

Additional Information

SKU xxan55
Picture Size 33,50 x 23 cm
Specification Book
technic Engraving
Artist Jacob de Gheyn II
period 17th century
School Dutch
subject Costume
rating ****

Jacob de Gheyn II (1565 -1629)

Jacon De Ghey IIDutch painter and engraver, whose work shows the transition from Northern Mannerism to Dutch realism over the course of his career.(also Jacques de Gheyn II) De Gheyn was born in Antwerp and received his first training from his father, Jacob de Gheyn I, a glass painter, engraver, and draftsman.In 1585, he moved to Haarlem, where he studied under Hendrik Goltzius for the next five years. He moved again, to Leiden, in the middle of the 1590s.

 His work attracted the attention of wealthy sponsors, and his first commission was for an engraving of the Siege of Geertruidenberg from Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. This event from March 27 to June 24, 1593, had been more of a demonstration of power by Prince Maurits, than an actual war, and had even attracted tourists. As a publicity stunt, the siege and its subsequent engraving were successful in propagating an image of Prince Maurits as an able general.

Around 1600, de Gheyn abandoned engraving, and focused on painting and etching. Moving to The Hague in 1605, he was employed often by Dutch royalty, designing a garden in the Buitenhof for Prince Maurice of Orange which featured the two first grottoes in the Netherlands. After Prince Maurice's death in 1625, de Gheyn worked for his brother, Prince Frederick Henry. De Gheyn painted some of the earliest female nudes, vanitas, and floral still lifes in Dutch art. He is credited with creating over 1,500 drawings, including landscapes and natural history illustrations.

He produced 117 engravings for the military manual The Exercise of Armes while living in Amsterdam. De Gheyn married Eva Stalpaert van der Wiele of Mechelen in 1595.
His son, Jacob de Gheyn III, was born in 1596, and grew to become an engraver in his own right, as well as the subject of a portrait by Rembrandt. De Gheyn died in The Hague.

All the items are guaranteed to be originals and as described. 
A letter of authenticity is added by simple request.
Items may be returned within 15 days after arrival.
I ship worldwide and provide Insurance and other delivery options.

All items can be purchased instantly at the listed prices,
on reservation of errors in price or availibility..