AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 1
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 2
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 3
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 4
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 5
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 6
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 7
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 8
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE - photo 9

AMBASSADORS OF SHAH `ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE

Sold
£ 3 528
Auction dateClassic
25.04.2024 10:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1178431
Lot 63 | AMBASSADORS OF SHAH 'ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE
AMBASSADORS OF SHAH 'ABBAS TO THE COURTS OF EUROPE

BY DOMENICUS CUSTOS, AUGSBURG, CIRCA 1600-02; AEGIDIUS SADELER II, PRAGUE, 1604; JAMES FITTLER, ENGLAND, 1789

A group of four engravings, Portrait of Shah ‘Abbas, King of Persia, after Giacomo Franco and Sir Anthony Shirley, after Aegidius Sadeler II, both by Dominicus Custos, from his Atrium Heroicum Caesarum, circa 1600-02, on laid paper, fine impressions, lacking the letterpress text; together with Portrait of Sinal Khan Shamlu, by Aegidius Sadeler ll, after Essaye le Gillon, engraving, 1604, on laid paper, a very good impression; and Portrait of Robert Shirley, copy by James Fittler after Matthias Greuter, etching and engraving, 1789, on laid paper, a very good impression

Portrait of Sir Anthony Shirley 7 ½ x 5 ¼in. (18.9 x 13.3cm); portrait of Shah 'Abbas 7 ½ x 5 1⁄8in. (19 x 13cm.); portrait of Sinal Khan Shamlu 9 x 5 7⁄8in. (23 x 14.9cm.); portrait of Robert Shirley 5 ½ x 3 ¾in. (14.1 x 9.5cm.)





Provenance

Acquired by the present owner in Germany in the 1980s and 1990s



Inscribed

Engraving of Shah 'Abbas I: Massagetoe Cyro nocuere, Scythoeque Dareio / Turcatibi nocuit, sed Scythae cessil Abbas 'The Massageteans [a nomadic people] harmed Cyrus, the Scythians Darius / Turkey harms you. But the Sythians flee before Abbas'

Engraving of Anthony Shirley: Anton. Scherleyns Angl. Eq. Avrat. Mag. Soph. Persar. Ad Caesarem, etc. Legatvs Antoni Orator Persae, Angliae, regis, ad istud Excelso munus peruenis ingenio 'Anthony Sherley, Englishman, knight in the Order of the Golden Spur, legate of the Great Sophi of Persia to the Emperor and others. O Anthony, legate of the Persian king to the king of England, you were given this appointment thanks to your great gifts'.

Engraving of Sinal Khan Shamlu: (Persian and Latin) Janeb-e raf at-e dastgah Zeynal Khan Shamlu keh az janeb-e navvab-e homayun-e ashraf-e a’la be jenab-e hazrat-e qeral saheb-e eqbal-e a’zam 'H.E. the noble mighty Zeynal Khan Shamlu, who, on behalf of His Exalted Most Noble Royal Majesty, has come to His Royal Majesty, Lord of the Greatest Felicity'.
Synal Chaen Serenissmus Princeps in Persia Magni Sophi Regis Persarum ad Avgvstvm Caesarem Rvdolphvm II Laegatvs. Cum priui. S. Cae. M.tis Anno M. D.C.IIII. 'Zeynal Khan, most serene prince, legate of the grand Sophi, King of Persia, to the His Imperial Majesty Rudolph II. With privilege of His Imperial Majesty, 1604'. S: Cæs. M.tis sculptor Aegidius Sadeler ad viuum delineavit Pragae 'made after life by His Imperial Majesty’s engraver Aegidius Sadeler in Prague'

Engraving of Robert Shirley: Robertvs Sherley’ Anglvs Comes Caesare’ Eqves Avrat 'Robert Sherley, Englishman, Count in the Emperor’s Order of the Golden Spur'.
Die 29. septembris (September 29). Magni Sophi Persaru Legatus ad SSmu D.N./ Paulu P.P.V. Ceterosq. Principes Christianos. Ingress. Romam solenni pompa die 28. Septemb. 1609. aetatis sue. 28. 'Legate of the Great Sophi, King of Persia, to His Holiness Our Lord Paul V and other Christian princes. Entered Rome in solemn ceremony on the 28th day of September 1609 at the age of 28'.
Supm lic. MG f. Si vendino alla Pace. cu priuil.o 'Under license. MG [Initials of Matthias Greuter, intertwined]. On sale at the [Piazza della] Pace. With privilege'.



Sale room notice

Please note that the second engraving listed in the description should read Sir Anthony Shirley by Dominicus Custos and not Sir Robert Shirley as in the printed catalogue.
Applied technique:Engraving
Medium:Acrylic glass, Plastic
Genre:Portrait
Auction house category:Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings, Prints & Multiples
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
25.04.2024 – 25.04.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
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