Stradanus Select Works

Select Works

Cooper Hewitt’s Stradanus drawings were at some point bound together to form several sketchbooks. Binding holes and threads suggest that they were likely bound during the artist’s lifetime, perhaps after some of the drawings were executed. The books were later disassembled; their leaves were separated, and many of the sheets were cut apart and laid down on secondary and tertiary supports that obscured the sheets’ versos (reverse sides). Thanks to recent conservation treatments and lining removal, some of the Stradanus sheets can now be reconstructed to approximate their original form. Seen anew in this context, the reassembled sheets facilitate new insights into Stradanus’s artistic process.

High-resolution files of the images can be downloaded from links at the bottom of this page.

Above: 1901-39-120, verso Drawing The Naval Battle Against the Turks at Lepanto, 1571 From the series The War Against the Turks 1589 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 10.9 × 14.8 cm (4 5/16 × 5 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-147, verso Drawing Annunciation [left]; The Visitation [right] From the series The Life of the Virgin (Beatae intactae semper Virginis Mariae Vita) Design for plate 6 [left] Design for plate 7 [right] 1589 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 10.5 × 14.8 cm (4 1/8 × 5 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-136, recto Drawing Procession of the Sacrament From the series The Eucharist Design for plate 13 ca. 1595–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes, over black chalk on laid paper 7.9 × 10.6 cm (3 1/8 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-149, recto Drawing Title Page From the series New Inventions of Modern Times (Nova Reperta) ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes over black chalk on laid paper 7.1 × 10.7 cm (2 13/16 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-149, verso Drawing ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 7.1 × 10.7 cm (2 13/16 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-136, verso Drawing The Celebration of the Eucharist From the series The Eucharist Design for plate 12 ca. 1595–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes, over black chalk on laid paper 7.9 × 10.6 cm (3 1/8 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-147, recto Drawing Annunciation [left]; Birth of the Virgin [right] From the series The Life of the Virgin (Beatae intactae semper Virginis Mariae Vita) Design for plate 5 [left] Design for plate 2 [right] 1589 or before Pen and ink, brush and brown wash on laid paper 10.5 × 14.8 cm (4 1/8 × 5 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-120, recto Drawing Marriage of the Virgin [left]; Marriage Feast at Cana [right] From the series The Life of the Virgin 1589 or before (Beatae intactae semper Virginis Mariae Vita) Design for plate 4 [left] Design for plate 13 [right] Pen and ink, brush and brown wash on paper 10.9 × 14.8 cm (4 5/16 × 5 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-168, verso Drawing Communion at Home From the series The Eucharist Design for plate 15 ca. 1595-1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes, over black chalk on laid paper 7.7 × 10.5 cm (3 1/16 × 4 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-165, recto Drawing Bird Hunt with Owls From the series Hunts of Wild Animals, Birds, and Fish (Venationes ferarum, avium, piscium) Design for plate later numbered 68 ca. 1596-99 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 7.7 × 11 cm (3 1/16 × 4 5/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-168, recto Drawing Communion at Church From the series The Eucharist Design for plate 14 ca. 1595–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and black wash over black chalk on paper 7.7 × 10.5 cm (3 1/16 × 4 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-165, verso 7.7 × 11 cm (3 1/16 × 4 5/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-292, recto Drawing The Charity of Saint Nicholas ca. 1585–88 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes over black chalk on laid paper 10.3 × 7.0 cm (4 1/16 × 2 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-294, recto Drawing The Charity of Saint Nicholas ca. 1585–1588 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes over black chalk on laid paper 10.4 × 8.2 cm (4 1/8 × 3 ¼ in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-292, verso Inscription ca. 1585–88 Pen and brown ink on laid paper 10.3 × 7.0 cm (4 1/16 × 2 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-294, verso Fragment of Inscription ca. 1585–88 Pen and brown ink on laid paper 10.4 × 8.2 cm (4 1/8 × 3 ¼ in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-300, recto Drawing The Invention of the Stirrup From the series New Inventions of Modern Times (Nova Reperta) Design for plate 9 ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown and black inks, brush and black wash over black chalk on laid paper 10.8 × 15.2 cm (4 5/16 × 6 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-302, recto Drawing The Invention of the Compass From the series New Inventions of Modern Times (Nova Reperta) Design for plate 2 ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and gray and brown wash, with black chalk on laid paper 11 × 14.7 cm (4 1/4 × 5 3/4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-300, verso Inscription ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 10.8 × 15.2 cm (4 5/16 × 6 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-302, verso Inscription ca. 1590 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 11 × 14.7 cm (4 1/4 × 5 3/4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-2640, recto Drawing Judith with the Head of Holofernes ca. 1587–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, with opaque white watercolor on laid paper 10.9 × 7.6 cm (4 5/16 × 3 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-2639, recto Drawing Judith with the Head of Holofernes ca. 1587–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash with black chalk on laid paper 10.7 × 7.1 cm (4 1/4 × 2 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-2639, verso Drawing The Ascension of Christ ca. 1585–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash on laid paper 10.7 × 7.1 cm (4 1/4 × 2 13/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-2640, verso Drawing Study for Title Page From the series The Seven Planets (Septem Planetae) 1587–88 or before Pen and brown ink 10.9 × 7.6 cm (4 5/16 × 3 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2647, recto Drawing Lamentation over the Dead Christ ca. 1580–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash on laid paper 7.7 × 10.5 cm (3 × 4 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2648, recto Drawing Adoration of the Magi ca. 1580–1600 Pen and brown ink over black chalk on laid paper 7.3 × 10.7 cm (2 7/8 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-2648, verso Drawing Saint Christopher with the Infant Christ ca. 1580–1600 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash on laid paper 7.3 × 10.7 cm (2 7/8 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-2647, recto Drawing Zeuxis Painting Helen, with Study of a Lower Leg ca. 1580–1605 Pen and brown ink over black chalk on laid paper 7.7 × 10.5 cm (3 × 4 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-2673, recto Drawing Zeuxis Painting Helen ca. 1585–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash on laid paper 10.5 × 7.9 cm (4 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-2649, recto Drawing Zeuxis Painting Helen ca. 1580–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, with opaque white watercolor, over black chalk on laid paper 10.6 × 7.2 cm (4 3/16 × 2 7/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Left: 1901-39-2649, verso 10.6 × 7.2 cm (4 3/16 × 2 7/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Right: 1901-39-2673, verso Drawing The Falsifiers ca. 1587 Pen and brown ink with black chalk on laid paper 10.5 × 7.9 cm (4 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2677, recto Drawing Spiritus Timoris Domini (The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord) From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for Plate 7 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over black chalk on laid paper 6.2 × 10.6 cm (2 7/16 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2659, recto Drawing Spiritus Fortitudines (The Spirit of Strength) From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for plate 4 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 8.3 × 10.4 cm (3 ¼ × 4 1/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2677, verso Inscription 1595 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 6.2 × 10.6cm (2 7/16 × 4 3/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2659, verso Inscription 1595 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 8.3 × 10.4 cm. (3 ¼ × 4 1/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2665, recto Drawing Spiritus Sapientiae (The Spirit of Wisdom) From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for plate 1 1595 or before Pen and brown and black inks, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 7.3 × 9.8 cm. (2 7/8 × 3 7/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2666, verso Drawing Spiritus Scientiae (The Spirit of Science) From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for plate 5 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 7.9 × 11.1 cm. (3 1/8 × 4 3/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2666, verso Inscription Pen and brown ink on laid paper 7.9 × 11.1 cm. (3 1/8 × 4 3/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2665, verso Inscription 1595 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 7.3 × 9.8 cm. (2 7/8 × 3 7/8 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above, left: 1901-39-2670, verso Drawing Salome Offering Saint John’s Head to Her Parents From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for plate 10 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 6.1 × 5.0 cm (2 7/16 × 1 15/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Above, right: 1901-39-2671, verso Drawing Salome Offering Saint John’s Head to her Parents From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for plate 10 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 6.2 × 5.0 cm (2 7/16 × 1 15/16) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below, left: 1947-58-6, verso Drawing Virgin and Child with Saint Anne ca. 1580–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 8.2 × 5.3 cm (3 3/16 × 2 1/16 in.) Below, right: 1947-58-5 Drawing Holy Family ca. 1580–1605 Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 8.3 × 5.1 cm (3 1/4 × 2 in.)

Above, left: 1901-39-2671, recto Drawing Saint John the Baptist in Prison, Visited by his Disciples From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for plate 8 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 6.2 × 5.0 cm (2 7/16 × 1 15/16) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Above, right: 1901-39-2670, recto Drawing Saint John the Baptist in Prison, Visited by his Disciples From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for plate 8 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 6.1 × 5.0 cm (2 7/16 × 1 15/16 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below, left: 1947-58-5, verso Drawing Salome Offering Saint John’s Head to her Parents From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for plate 10 ca. 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes over black chalk on laid paper 8.3 × 5.1 cm (3 1/4 × 2 in.) Below, right: 1947-58-6, verso Drawing Salome Offering Saint John’s Head to her Parents From the series The Life of Saint John the Baptist Design for Plate 10 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and black washes over black chalk on laid paper 8.2 × 5.3 cm (3 3/16 × 2 1/16 in.)

Above: 1901-39-2679, recto Drawing The Spirit of Piety From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for Plate 6 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 7.4 × 10.2 cm (2 7/8 × 4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2653, recto Drawing Spiritus Intellectus (The Spirit of Intellect) From the series The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Design for plate 2 1595 or before Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper 7 × 10.1 cm (2 3/4 × 4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Above: 1901-39-2679, verso Inscription 1595 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 7.4 × 10.2 cm (2 7/8 × 4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors Below: 1901-39-2653, verso Inscription 1595 or before Pen and brown ink on laid paper 7 × 10.1 cm (2 3/4 × 4 in.) Museum purchase through gift of various donors

Download High-Resolution Image Files

The following links, listed by object inventory accession number, provide access to the Smithsonian collection site from which high-resolution files can be downloaded by clicking the button below the image.

inv. 1901-39-120 + inv. 1901-39-147

inv. 1901-39-136 + inv. 1901-39-149

inv. 1901-39-165 + inv. 1901-39-168

inv. 1901-39-292 + inv. 1901-39-294

inv. 1901-39-300 + inv. 1901-39-302

inv. 1901-39-2639 + inv. 1901-39-2640

inv. 1901-39-2647 + inv. 1901-39-2648

inv. 1901-39-2649 + inv. 1901-39-2673

inv. 1901-39-2653 + inv. 1901-39-2679

inv. 1901-39-2659 + inv. 1901-39-2677

inv. 1901-39-2666 + inv. 1901-39-2665

inv. 1901-39-2670 + inv. 1901-39-2671 + inv. 1947-58-5 + inv. 1947-58-6

The Stradanus Project is made possible with support from Getty through The Paper Project initiative; and received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.

Featured Image: Drawing, The Arts, Personified by Apollo, 1594–96; Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus (Flemish, 1523–1605); Engraved by Jan Sadeler, the Elder (ca. 1550–1600), Hans Collaert II (Flemish, 1560–1628); Published by Philips Galle (Flemish, 1537–1612); Pen and brown ink, brush and wash on laid paper; 11 × 14.6 cm (4 5/16 × 5 3/4 in.); Museum purchase through gift of various donors, 1901-39-2661