Francquart Et Galle, Puteano - Undertakers Of Albert Ii. Brussels, 1623.

FRANCQUART ET GALLE (Jacques and Cornelis), PUTEANO (Eyricius) - Pompa funebris optimi potentissimique[ue] principis Alberti Pii, Achiducis Austriae, Ducis Burg. Bra. &vs. Brussels, Se (printed by Hendrik van Haestens in Leuven), 1623; oblong folio, printed title page, XXIV-64 plates, restored full old vellum binding, smooth spine, 6 laces, the endpapers have been changed (old paper). Flemish ex-libris by Jules Peeters (modern). The title page and the last 4 plates are restored. Rare first edition, in Latin, Spanish, French and Flemish, of a superb suite of finely engraved plates commemorating, in extraordinary detail. The funeral procession of March 12, 1622 of Archduke Albert VII of Austria (1569-1621), sovereign (with his wife Isabella Clara Eugenia, daughter of King Philip II of Spain) of the Netherlands. A 24-page text description of the parade by Evricus Puteanus, making this book one of the most eminent works of the golden age of Flemish copperplate engraving. The work is particularly interesting in giving a detailed snapshot of the composition of the procession of the entire court of Albert II, which marches past at his death. After serving as Archbishop of Toledo (1595-1598), Albert, son of Emperor Maximilian II, also became Governor of the Spanish Netherlands in 1596. In 1598 he married the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566-1633), the daughter of King Philip II of Spain. Together they reigned over the Southern Netherlands as sovereigns until Albert's death on July 13, 1621. Jacques Francquart (1577-1651) was a Flemish painter, court architect and engraver born in Antwerp. He traveled to study art in Italy and was apprenticed to Rubens on his return, he also designed the chariot for the funeral procession. Magnificent and rare funeral book illustrated with a title page remarkable for the skeletons which adorn it and complete with its 64 plates which describe the funeral procession engraved by Corneille Galle from drawings by Jacques Francquart. Cornelius Galle is the most famous engraver of the dynasty that bears his name, he also worked with Rubens, like Francquart, and traveled to Rome like most artists of that time. Galle is known for his collaborations with Rubens, but he is also known for having engraved for Plantin and for Moretus. The work is a gallery of portraits of the nobility of the Netherlands in the 17th century and an extraordinary testimony to costume at that time. This funeral parlor recalls in many details the funeral parlor of Charles III, (which is of a larger format with a few more boards). What is particularly striking is that the two ceremonies are organized almost in the same order, and the engravings are very similar, it is to bet that Corneille Galle saw the work of Charles III, which is very possible since these festive works are in fact both reports, period television news and above all propaganda instruments to show the importance of a king with his court within the nobility of his time.