This small print series is called ‘Verschillende Bedrijven uit het Menselijke Leven Door Apen Voorgesteld’ (Various episodes of human life performed by monkeys) from designs by the Flemish printer Quirin Boel (or Coryn Bol; 25 January 1620 – 1668) and compatriot painter David Teniers, aka Teniers The Younger, aka David Teniers II (15 December 1610 – 25 April 1690).
The series is dated 1635, which would make Boel 15 years old at the time of publication.
Teniers and Boel are more widely known for collaborating on the Theatrum Pictorium, a catalog 243 Italian paintings owned by prolific art collector Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria when he was stationed in Brussels as governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. Teniers hired Boel, among others, to make engravings of the paintings. While the project was initially planned to include the Archduke’s entire collection around 1,300 pieces), the Archduke returned to Vienna before the project was completed. As a result, only 246 plates was produced.
Twee apen houden een wereldbol (1635 – 1690) by Quirin Boel, David Teniers II and David Teniers II
More:
Original public domain image from The Rijksmuseum
Via: Rijksmuseum
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