Complete series of the Acts of Mercy, including the plate of the Last Judgement, engraved by the engraver, illustrator and publisher Crispijn de Passe I (ca. 1564-1637) after Maarten de Vos (1532-1603), one of the most prolific and influential print designers of his generation. They were first published by the engraver Crispijn de Passe the elder (I), and subsequently by Adriaen Collaert, Theodoor Galle and Johannes Galle. Our set shows the 7 prints of the Acts of Mercy in their second state (of 4) by Collaert, with his monogram "AC" in the plates. The eighth print, showing the Last Judgement, is in its third state, published by Johannes Galle.
The acts of mercy depicts feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked in a dress shop, housing the homeless, tending the sick, visiting prisoners and burying the dead.
One print (feeding the hungry) untrimmed. The 7 trimmed prints are reinforced with two small white paper slips in the head margin, the Last Judgement very slightly toned and with a few spots. Otherwise in good condition with very sharp and dark impressions of the plates. The complete series of the Acts of Mercy, including the Last Judgement. Hollstein XV, 471-477; New Hollstein (Maarten de Vos), 613.3; 614-620.2.