Original engraving executed with burin after a 16th-century painting by Maerten Jacobszoon Heemskerk van Veen or Maarten van Heemskerck, Marten, Maerten, Martin.
Proof on watermarked laid paper, early 17th-century work.This is an illustration of a passage from Acts of the Apostles, 9.1-3: "Cependant Saul, respirant encore la menace et le meurtre contre les disciples du Seigneur, se rendit chez le souverain sacrificateur, et lui demanda des lettres pour les synagogues de Damas, afin que, s'il trouvait des partisans de la nouvelle doctrine, hommes ou femmes, il les amenât liés à Jérusalem. Comme il était en chemin, et qu'il approchait de Damas, tout à coup une lumière venant du ciel resplendit autour de lui" ["But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him"].Latin caption in the lower part of the engraving.Artist's signature in the plate.Numbered mention "16" in the lower right corner, within the engraving.Manuscript notation "149" in margin in the upper right corner of the plate.An old manuscript annotation in Greek characters below the plate mark.Crown watermark visible by transparency.Rare and discreet foxing and small dampstains mainly marginal, otherwise very fine condition for this extremely rare engraving of great freshness.Maerten Jacobszoon Heemskerk van Veen or Maarten van Heemskerck, Marten, Maerten, Martin (1498 in Heemskerk - October 1, 1574 in Haarlem), is one of the major portraitists and history painters of the Netherlands. He is famous for his series of the Seven Wonders of the World.