The etching of the interior of the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle by Aegidius Sadeler II.
Image: Reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum
Relatively little attention has been paid to the art fair taking place in it.
Dated 1607, the plate is dedicated to Christoph Popel of Lobkowicz, an important art collector as well as senior court official.
In the bottom left-hand corner depicted in extraordinary detail is a stall selling loose prints together with framed items.
A detail of the etching of the interior of the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle by Aegidius Sadeler II.
Imperial engraver
Sadeler was imperial engraver from soon after 1597 and there is good reason to believe that the design of the print was by Sadeler himself. If so, it is highly probable that it is Sadeler’s own sales point in the annual art and crafts fair taking place, and it is Sadeler himself greeting his high-ranking customer.
Is this the earliest accurate representation of an art dealer’s stand in a trade fair?
Some things have changed little since 1607.
Peter Cannon-Brookes
