Etienne Delaune
2 1/8 x 3 1/8 in
(each)
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Delaune took up printmaking about 1557 (his earliest dated work is 1561) and became the most accomplished engraver in France, working generally on a small scale.
A Protestant, the Massacre of St Bartholomew in 1572 forced him to flee, initially to Strasbourg and four years later to Augsburg, then back to Strasbourg in 1580. Shortly before his death he returned to Paris.
A delightful matched set of twelve oval miniature depictions of seasonal activities; each month with the appropriate sign of the zodiac included at the top of the subject.
On rectangular plates, each ‘entitled’ with the specific month, and with the royal privilege, at the foot of the plate. All signed, in Latin, (except for July), generally with the initials SF (Stephanus fecit) within the subject (May and June have Stephanus F). January is also dated.