Mars and Venus

Etching, 1583 circa, signed upper right with monogram: 'MA'.

A very good example, printed on contemporary laid paper, with “rhombus with six-pointed star in a circle” watermark (Briquet, 6097), trimmed at margins, occasional foxing, generally in good condition.

According to Dillon in Venice 1980, Venus's figure corresponds in reverse to Andromeda, engraved by Hendrik Goltzius in 1583 (Hollstein VIII.34.157), but it remains unsolved, which print was made first.

Rare work.