Antonio Tempesta. An Ostrich Hunt (plate 6), from Hunting Scenes V / Etching, 1600–20.

Artist/etcher: Antonio Tempesta (Italian, 1555–1630)
Publisher: François Langlois, dit “il Ciartres” (French, 1589–1647)
Series: Diverses chasses d’animaux (Hunting Scenes V) — suite of 7 (probable frontispiece lost)
Place/Date: Paris, c. 1600–1620
Medium: Etching on laid paper, thin paper backing State: Third (of three): with complete inscriptions and plate number at lower right. Earlier states exist before letters, and with letters before the number.
Dimensions: Sheet 187/183 × 263 mm; platemark 185/180 × 262 mm; image 175/168 × 262 mm
Before/after the slash = left/right measured height, indicating a slight diagonal trim.

Watermark: Grape cluster inside a double circle; in the ring: A ♥ G, see below.
— Inner circle Ø 40 mm, outer circle Ø 60 mm. Likely French stock (Auvergne/Thiers papers commonly used in Paris editions, early 17th century).

Inscriptions (engraved, lower margin):
– Left: Antonius Tempesta invenit et sculp. (Bartsch and BM abbreviate “Ant. Tempesta,” but here it is clearly “Antonius”).
– Right: F. L. D. Il Ciartres excudit Cum Privilegio Regis Christianiss. (with long “s”; François Langlois Dictus Il Ciartres; “excudit” = published by; “Cum Privilegio Regis Christianissimi” = with the privilege of the Most Christian King).
– Far right: 6 (plate number in Hunting Scenes V series).

Description:
A dramatic ostrich hunt: mounted riders close on a huge ostrich with lances while hounds leap at the bird; an archer with attendants presses from the right. In front, a horseman has fallen; other riders and birds scatter across a plain dotted with palms and low hills.

Catalogue raisonné: Bartsch XVII, p. 167, nos. 1133–1139: Diverses chasses d’animaux, suite numbered 1–7; imprint forms as on this plate; proofs before numbers recorded.
“1133–1139. Diverses chasses d’animaux. Suite de sept (il est vraisemblable qu’il existe une huitième pièce qui sert de frontispice) estampes. Largeur : 9 p. 8 lign. à 10 p. Hauteur : 6 p. 3 lign. à 7 p. La marge d’en bas : 5 à 6 lign. Ces pièces sont numérotées à la droite de la marge d’en bas, depuis 1 à 7. Dans chacune de ces marges on lit à gauche : Ant. Tempesta invent. et sculp., et à droite: F. L. D. H. Ciartres excudit cum Privilegio Regis Christianiss. On a des épreuves avant les numéro.”
[English: Various animal hunts. Suite of seven prints (there likely exists an eighth plate serving as a frontispiece). Width: 261.7 to 270.7 mm; Height: 169.2 to 189.5 mm. The lower margin: 11.3–13.5 mm. Numbered at lower right, 1–7. Left: “Antonius Tempesta invenit et sculpsit”; right: “Franciscus Langlois, dictus Il Ciartres, excudit cum Privilegio Regis Christianissimi”. Proofs exist before the numbers.]

References:
– British Museum, 1848,1125.55: Hunting Scenes V — A ostrich hunt, it is being attacked by men and dogs, 184 × 260 mm; publisher Langlois; date 1600–1620; collector’s mark Sir Peter Lely (L.2092).
– Rijksmuseum, RP-PHH-104X: Landschap met Oosterse jagers en jachthonden jagend op struisvogels. Op de achtergrond worden struisvogels in een greppel gejaagd (Landscape with oriental hunters and hunting dogs chasing ostriches. In the background, ostriches are being chased into a ditch); 187 × 264 mm; 1600–1620.