A sperm whale beached near Scheveningen in 1598

MATHAM, Jacob.

Een Walvisch, Lang 70 voeten, gestrandt op de Hollandise zee-kust, tusschen Scheveningen en Katwyk, in Sprokkelmaandt, 1598.
Dutch, c.1700. 275 x 340mm.

Trimmed to plate on left with repaired tear, remargined with old paper.

A famous scene depicting the sightseers coming to examine a 70 foot long sperm whale which was stranded on the beach at Berchkey, between Katwijk and Scheveningen, in February 1598. Some are harvesting the blubber; others measure its penis as a man uses it to climb onto the dead creature.
This plate was engraved by Gilliam van der Gouwen (c.1657-1716), closely copying a 1598 engraving by Jacob Matham (1571-1631).


Stock ID : 24030