A hand-coloured etching on laid paper titled ‘A father brings his son possessed by a demon to Christ’, designed by Jan van Orley (1665-1735), printed and published by Pieter Schenk (1660-1711).

John van Orley (1665-1735)

Jan van Orley (1665-1735) was a Southern Netherlandish artist with a specialization in designing tapestries. His career started with miniature portraits, but after the bombardment of Brussels in 1695, many churches had been destroyed that could use his help. Monumental paintings and other works of art had to be restored. In this way he developed his talent in almost all areas. His painting style resembled the Italian painting of that time, but he was later more and more influenced by the French Baroque.

Many of his works can still be found today in and around Bruges and Brussels (Belgium) where he was most active. Including the tapestry cycle with eight scenes from the life of Christ (1730-31) in St. Salvator’s Cathedral in Bruges. Van Orley died after a successful career in Brussels on February 22, 1735.

Pieter Schenk (1660-1711)

Petrus (Pieter) Schenck (I) and his son Pieter Schenk (II) were regarded as one of the most important artists of Saxon cartography in the first half of the 18th century. Schenk (I) was born in 1660 in Elberfeld (Germany), but left for Amsterdam at a young age to work for the Amsterdam engraver and map publisher Gerard Valck. He married the sister of his teacher in Amsterdam and had six children from that marriage. In 1700 he returned to Germany to work as a map and art dealer. Schenk died after a successful career in 1711 in Leipzig.

Etching

Etching is considered the most important technique for producing prints by old masters. It is a very traditional process discovered by Daniel Hopfer (1470 – 1536) in Germany. Daniel Hopfer already used the etching technique on combat clothing before applying it to make a print. A strong acid or pickling agent is used to cut metal surfaces (usually copper, zinc or steel). The metal plate is covered with a waxy soil which is resistant to acid. The artist then scratches his or her design into the metal with different types of etching needles. After a bath of acid or pickling agent, the scratched metal undergoes a redox reaction, leaving the drawing in the wax on the plate. Ink is poured over the plate and wiped off again to fill in the scratched areas. By then pressing the plate in paper, an etching is created.