Antique 1680s copper engraving

"Saint Dionysius the Areopagite", by Johann Wilhelm Heckenauer, 1680s, original copper engraving on laid proof paper, inscription "DIONYSIUS, dictus ab Areopago AREOPAGITA primus episcopus Atheniensis. Flor. Sec. I.", signed in plate "J. W. Heckenauer sc. ad examplar vetustissimum." [Note: Heckenauer made a mistake in "AREOPAGITA" and added a small "R" between "A" and "E"]

Design c.4" x 5.3/4" [10cm x 13.7cm]; the the copper plate (impressed area including text block) c.4.1/8" x 6.1/4" [10.4cm x 16cm]; the entire plate with the blank margins 5.3/4" x 7.1/2" [14.5cm x 19cm]; left margin is slightly damaged [see picture], ink-written faded "A.L." number "38" is at the upper right corner; some paper aging (foxing: see picture), very good condition.

While Heckenauer's works are located in several European museums, we were not able to locate another copy of this particular plate. The fact that this engraving is printed on thin proof-quality paper may indicate that it is a single proof, and there are no other copies in existence.

Authentic seventeenth century engraving. The COA is included.

This 1680s engraving is based on the plate "Denis the Areopagite, first apostle to the Gauls", by Andre Thevet, engraved by Thomas Campanella De Laumessin, from book 1, folio 1 recto of "Les vrais pourtraits et vies des hommes illustres grecz", latins et payens by Andre Thevet, published in 1584.

Saint Dionysius the Areopagite was a judge at the court Areopagus in Athens who lived in the first century. As related in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 17:34), he was converted to Christianity by the preaching of Paul the Apostle during the Areopagus sermon. According to Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, as quoted by Eusebius, this Dionysius then became the first Bishop of Athens. He is venerated as a saint in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. His name's day in the Eastern Orthodox Church is October 3rd and in the Roman Catholic Church is October 9th.

Note:

It was commonly assumed that St. Denis of Paris and Dionisius Areopagite are one and the same person. In addition, this image by Thevet was also used as a portrait of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, Christian theologian and philosopher of the late 5th to early 6th century.

Johann Wilhelm Heckenauer (d. 1720) was a German engraver. He was active in Augsburg, Bavaria, one of the German centers of publishing industry. He moved to Berlin in the early 1700s. In 1703, he engraved the architectural designs of Berlin's buildings by Andreas Schlueter. Then he moved to Vienna. From 1716 through 1720, he is active in Braunschweig. The first volume of the catalog of the Art Collection in the Braunschweig Castle with plates engraved by Heckenauer was issued in 1720. Heckenauer died in Braunschweig in 1720.[Reference: Nagler, "Die Monogramisten", Hirth's Verlag, 1858, vol. iv, p. 203, # 692]

See also:
"Dictionnaire des artistes, dont nous avons des estampes: avec une notice detaillee de leurs ouvrages graves". B - Biz, Volume 2, publ. Breitkopf, Leipzig, 1788 p. 672.

Provenance:

This engraving comes from a collection of engravings bound by the German art collector "A.L." The finalized collection of hand-numbered engravings is dated 1762 which provides additional warranty that the engravings are authentic and created prior to 1762; auctioned in London, UK.

Artwork will be mailed unframed.

Note:
Country restrictions may apply - the lesser expansive Priority shipping may not be available to all countries.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) --------- $18.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-7 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $41.50