Pickaert (II), P. (1668/69-1737). Dog running leftwards

Mezzotint, 12.5 x 15.5 cm, copy in the same orientation after J. Verkolje (I) (1650-1693), signed "P. Pickart f.", mounted at upper corners under passe-partout. Good impression, trimmed on/ just outside the plate mark. Verso partly w. large remnants of former mounting, sm. tear in upper r. corner, sl. creased. Wurzbach 12, not in Hollstein.

A nice print in an intriguing and very rare variant, one of only 12 prints by the artist mentioned by Wurzbach. Almost identical to the version by Verkolje (incl. the space surrounding the dog), signed "J. Verkolje pinx. et fec. et exc. 1684". Another version is known from a plate with wider lower and upper margins signed "P. Pickart fecit" in a blank strip below the image. It is possible that Verkolje copied the print, in which case the original would be by Pieter Pickaert (I) (1646-Jan. 1684). A copy in reverse by John Smith (1652-1743) is also known. The dog has been suggested to be a Spaniel; in our view the "Hollandse Schapendoes" is a more likely identification.