Maria, mater Dei, regina coeli - Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert

A fine seventeenth-century engraving by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert after Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

This engraving, titled Maria, mater Dei, regina coeli, is a work by the Dutch printmaker Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert. It is based on a composition by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, as indicated by the inscription P.P. Rubens pinxit. Bolswert was a master of the burin, and his technical skill allowed him to translate the painterly qualities of Rubens into the precise, linear language of engraving.

The image depicts the Virgin Mary crowned as the Queen of Heaven, holding the Christ Child. The infant Jesus rests upon her lap, clutching an orb surmounted by a cross, which signifies his role as the saviour of the world. Mary holds a sceptre, reinforcing her royal status. The figures are set against a background of swirling clouds, which suggests a celestial realm.

Bolswert employs a variety of hatching and cross-hatching techniques to model the forms and textures of the drapery, skin, and hair. The light appears to emanate from behind the figures, creating a halo effect that draws the eye to the central subjects. The composition is balanced and formal, adhering to the iconographic traditions of the period. The inscription at the base, Maria mater Dei, regina coeli, translates to Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, which identifies the theological subject matter. This print reflects the collaborative nature of the seventeenth-century art market, where painters often relied on skilled engravers to disseminate their compositions to a wider audience. The work demonstrates the clarity and control characteristic of Bolswert's mature style, capturing the emotional gravity and physical presence of the figures.