a. VII PECCATORUM CAPITALIUM
Imagines Elegantissime a Philip. Gallaeo Depictae et Aeri Incisae.

b. VII VIRTUTUM THEOLOGICARUM ET CARDINALIUM
Icones Artificiosissime a Io. Strad. Praeformatas:
Philip. Gall. Aeneis Formis Eleganter Incidit.

Both complete sets from the first edition published by Philips Galle in Antwerp before 1612, each set comprising title plate and seven plates engraved by Wierix after a. Philips Galle (1537-1612) and b. Jan Van Der Straet, called Stradanus (1523-1605).

Extraordinary and rich impressions with large or full margins, stitching marks are still visible on some to the far-left edge of the sheet. Various watermarks, including a horn similar to Heawood 2641, Antwerp 1606 (sim.1598).

Literature:                     

    a.     Alvin 1296ff; Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1372ff; New Hollstein (The Wierix family) part VIII, vol. 66, 1758-1765.
          
    b.      Alvin 1367ff; A. Baroni Vannucci, Jan van der Straet, detto Giovanni Stradano, flandrus pictor et inventor (Milan: Jandi Sapi Editori, 1997), cat. 701; New Hollstein (The Wierix family:) part VIII, vol. 66, 1677-1684. 

   
Provenance:   Colnaghi, London;

                        David G. Carter.


a. The set comprises:

Title: 1758 I/II.
Plate 1: SUPERBIA 1759 only state.
Plate 2: AVARITIA 1760 only state.
Plate 3: LUXURIA 1761 only state.
Plate 4: INVIDIA 1762 only state.
Plate 5: GULA 1763 only state.
Plate 6: IRA 1764 only state.
Plate 7: ACEDIA 1765 II/II (first state unfinished proof impression, probably unique, one example known in the British Museum).

b. The set comprises:

Title plate: 1677 only state.
Plate 1: FIDES 1678 I/II.
Plate 2: SPES 1679 I/II.
Plate 3: CHARITAS 1680 I/II.
Plate 4: PRUDENTIA 1681 I/II.
Plate 5: JUSTITIA 1682 I/II.
Plate 6: FORTITUDO 1683 I/II.
Plate 7: TEMPERANTIA 1684 I/II.

The British Museum possesses a complete set (inv. 1863,0509.811-8). The Rijksmuseum appears not to possess a set. In America no complete set has been located in New York, Washington or Boston (which has 6 of the 8 plates).

David G. Carter was a scholar and curator of Dutch and Flemish art and a Rembrandt specialist, and successively Director of the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.