Beautiful, large engraving of Saints Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, in adoration of the appearance of the IHS Christogram, and surrounded by cherubs. Below the image is a short text with a description of each saint. The work was engraved by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (ca. 1586-1659), who was employed by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) to reproduce his paintings. Bolswert is considered one of the most gifted engravers of the School of Rubens, as he copied the paintings with great accuracy and was even able to bring the painterly aspect of the original to his engravings. He was one of the very few who met Rubens' high standards from the start, without needing additional schooling. The present work is among the first Rubens reproductions he made.
The work is somewhat browned, the edges are lightly frayed, a horizontal fold in the middle, barely visible on the front, a very small loss in the middle of the work. Otherwise in good condition. Hollstein, Dutch and Flemish III, p. 82, no. 239; Rijksmuseum RP-P-BI-2558.