This Guest Note was written by Bob Craft in December 2018. It discusses Haku Maki's use of ancient calligraphy in Poem 69-47.

This note discusses Haku Maki's Poem 70–14. Poem from the Manyoshu, and the sources of the kanji he used to create the print. The note was written in August 2019 by Robert Craft.

This note was written by Robert Craft and discusses Maki's use of an archaic form of Chinese script called seal script.

Two antique prints circa 17th century, matted together, one featuring profiles of a man's head (6 1/2" by 9 1/2"), the other a study of a bare foot and a foot in a sandal (6 1/2" by 4 1/2"), the head profiles, originally drawn by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) for his "Livre de Portraiture", subsequently transferred into engravings, likely by Jan Van Haelbeck (fl. 1600-1630) and published in Paris in 1667 by Francois de Poilly. Carracci's name is at lower left, and de Poilly at lower right...

Jacques Callot, French, 1592-1635, engraving, "Port Scene", image size: 4 x 5 11/16 inches

Very RARE Engraving of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Bust length portrait facing left, wearing armor and the badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The portrait sits within an oval frame bearing the Latin inscription 'IMP. CAES. CAROLVS V. AVG.' The frame has been set into an alcove featuring fluted Doric columns, an eagle, swags of fruit and allegorical female figures, such as those of Germany and Africa at the bottom of the plate. In the background are battle and pastoral scenes...

Italian lithograph titled TABULA VII showing an ancient mythology scene on fine laid paper with a strong impression

c 1614 Engravings Portraits Prince of Orange and his wife Elenora. Dutch origin, one signed Ant. Sanderus (Ant. Sanderus Gandensis). Fine condition. Each approximately 5 x 7.5".

An example of the etching "Signorum Veterum Icones", published 1668, after the artist's own drawings and those of other artists of the time who studied the classical statuary of the ancient world, with initials of the artist, JAN DE BISSCHOP (1628-1671) (also known as JOHANNES ESCOPIUS). The work measures 10" by 5" inside the mat and 15 1/2" by 9 3/4" in pleasant contemporary gold frame in excellent condition...

A 17th century Wenceslas Hollar "Trinitarianus" hand coloured engraving in frame. This finely detailed etching has a sight size of 10-3/8 x 6" with a plate size of 10-1/8 x 5-5/8". It is marked "Trinitarianus 831 W. Hollar fecit" and it is plate 831. It is on laid fibrous paper and it was from the series/portfolio "The Antiquities of Warwickshire Illustrated" printed in London, England 1656 (Hollar (1607-1677) was from Prague, Bohemia...

Johannes Wierix, Flemish, 1549-1618, "The Betrayal of Christ, Agony in the Garden". This is a rare early engraving by Johannes Wierix after Pieter van der Borcht, printed with an image on both sides of the sheet. Each image measures 4 1/2 x 2 7/ 8 inches, 1583, a good impression on a very early laid type paper, published by 16th century book printer and publisher Christophe Plantin. One side of the sheet shows the 'Betrayal of Christ', the other 'Agony in the Garden'.

Unusually large detailed engraving, 31 1/4" by 20 1/8", laid down on board, of Christ coming down off the Cross, this example engraved by Nicolaus Dorigny (1657-1776), and possibly after Daniel Ricciarelli (1509-1566), in turn after a painting by Raphael. The work is dated 1720 at lower left. There's a lot of text in Latin at bottom, and a close look reveals the names of the two above artists...

Etienne Picart, French, 1632-1721, engraving, "The virgin, St. John and the Christ Child", image sizE: 15 x 18 3/4 inches, LeBl 5 and 4, Provenance: J.W. Randall collection #2490, Picart was a student of Francois de Poilly and is also know as "Le Romain"

Gerard Audran, European, 1640-1703, "The Triumph of David". This early triptych by Gerard Audran of "The Triumph of David" is taken from the ceiling of the Sacchetti Palace in Rome. The image sizes are 21 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches with a sheet size of 21 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches, 23 3/4 x 12 3/8 inches with a sheet size of 24 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches and 21 3/8 x 13 5/8 inches with a sheet size of 22 x 16 1/4 inches, all on early laid paper. Created in 1668, after Charles LeBrun...

A group of three engravings probably by Johannas and Raphael Sadeler of Christian anchorites or hermits. The prints are after Maartin De Vos. These images were widely circulated in the early 17th century and printed and re-engraved by engravers other than the Sadelers. Interestingly of the three in this group two have no title, though they are trimmed right to the image and perhaps the title was removed...

From our European Collection, a very good 17th century copper plate engraving, most likely English circa 1650-1700, depicting a Chinese official accompanied by his entourage, with subjects kowtowing in the foreground and a crowd of spectators to the rear.

Size and Condition: 7 inches by 5 1/4 inches, very well preserved with only slight creasing.

A large engraving of a mythological scene of Venus after her bath getting ready for a date with Adonis. The print was made by Etienne Baudet the French engraver who also worked in Rome. It is dated 1672. The print is after one of a series of 4 paintings by Francesco Albani that were commissioned by the Duke of Mantua in 1621. The painting that is the source of this print is now in the Louvre. Sight size 23 ¼ by 27 inches (59 by 68 cm), overall 28 ¼ by 32 ¼ inches (72 by 82 cm)...

Cornelius Visscher, Dutch, 1629-1658, "Het Gesprek (The Conversation)". This 17th century engraving by the Dutch artist, Cornelius Visscher, measures 9 7/8 x 8 1/2 inches, c.1655, on laid paper with partial collectors seal on back. "A.V. Oftade pinxit et excud., C. Visscher fecit aqua forti. and Ger...