Abrege des vies des principaux fondateurs des religions de l'eglise, representez dans le Choeur de L'Abbaie de S. Lambert de Liessies en Haynaut . . . Antwerp, chez Martin Nutius,
BINET, (Etienne), S.J.
Engraved title-page, added, 39 engraved plates of which 38 are portaits within elaborate borders, all designed by Theodore Galle (1570-1633) and engraved by his brother Cornelis Galle (1576-1650).
4to. 300pp. [2]ff. 19th century blue morocco, triple gilt fillet on covers, spine gilt in compartments (joints rubbed). 1634
First and only edition of this important collaboration between the brothers Theodore and Cornelis Galle illustrating the now mostly lost paintings from the Choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Liessies, northern France, each subject is provided with a brief biography by the Jesuit author Etienne Binet (1569-1639). Theodore made designs from the original paintings which were then engraved by Cornelis to produce superb portraits of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, early Church Fathers, founders of religious orders, Liessies most revered abbot, Louis de Blois (1506-1565) and recent Saints such as St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Theresa of Avila and St. Philip of Neri, all within richly detailed borders. The portraits were dispersed or burned following the French Revolution but some are still to be seen in neighbouring churches. This work, therefore, is one of the few records of a series of paintings for which the abbey was famous.
The Galle brothers trained under their father Philip Galle (1537-1612) and later travelled to Rome to learn from the Italian masters. After his father's death Theodore took over his workshop and business while Cornelis became renowned for his reproductive engraving employing a traditional, dry engraving technique and style. He worked for Anthony van Dyck, Marten de Vos, Hendrick Goltzius and engraved Rubens' designs for title-pages and illustrations for the Plantin Press.
A little spotted in places and some light off-setting from a few of the plates.
Funck p. 215 & p. 212, fig. 80.
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