Mola Alata

Hand-colored copper engraving, 17th Century.
From series of drawings in the Nova-Reperta collection.
Engraved by Joannes Galle.
Image: 7 3/4 x 10 1/2″
Paper: 10 3/4 x 14″
Excellent condition.

Inventory Number: 10355
Scene with windmills, horses, and people.

Johannes Stradanus was a Flemish painter and draughtsman, active in Italy. He first trained under his father, Jan van der Straet, who was a painter in Bruges. After his father’s death, Stradanus was apprenticed for two years to Maximilian Franck (1490-1547). From 1537 to 1540 he trained under Pieter Aertsen in Antwerp. He left for Italy c. 1545 and traveled by way of Lyon, where he worked with Corneille de Lyon. He was then active in Venice, Florence, Reggio Emilia, and Naples. He stayed in Rome from 1550 to 1553 and in Flanders from 1576 to 1578.The traces of his Flemish artistic heritage were much appreciated in the refined Mannerist circle, led by Vasari, in which he was active in Florence. Stradanus was especially skilled as a designer of tapestry cycles.