Author: FOKKE, Simon.
Title: [12 drawings of Old Testament scenes].Amsterdam, 1783. Twelve pen and ink wash drawings (each ca. 8 x 6.5 cm) in subtle shades of grey and sepia. All 12 drawings mounted on a single contemporary stiff paper support (44 x 61 cm), neatly arranged in three rows of four, each with a border of lines drawn around it in ink. A contemporary pencil inscription below the lower right drawing reads "S. Fokke Amsterdam 1712-1784". Another in a later hand in the lower right corner of the support reads "S. Fokke".
Description: A set of drawings by Simon Fokke (1712-1784) made as models for the illustrations in J.F. Martinet's Alle de werken van Flavius Josephus (Amsterdam 1783-1787). The 12 pen and ink wash drawings vividly depict Old Testament scenes, very beautifully drawn and so subtly washed in a rich pattern of greys and sepia that the spaces left blank seem to radiate fire and sunlight. The engravings made from these drawings are in reverse and have 2 scenes on each plate.Simon Fokke was one of the most important artists of the second generation of 18th century book illustrators. According to E. de La Fontaine Verwey, he was a spontaneous and very gifted draughtsman and an expressive designer, who sometimes even engraved a plate without first drawing a model.A fine set.l Poortman 54; cf. E. de la Fontaine Verwey, Illustr. letterk werken XVIIIe eeuw, pp. 70-85 & passim; Scheen I, p. 343; Waller, Biogr. woordenboek, p. 102; Wurzbach I, 2 p. 544.

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