Étienne Delaune - 2 Prints of story of Apollo & Diana: Apollo slaying Python; Leto and the Lycian Peasants

Two prints created 1547-1548 by Etienne Delaune, from set of six illustrating the story of Apollo and Diana:

1. Apollo slaying Python
Apollo drawing bow in a rocky landscape. Python, with the head of a dragon, wings, lion's hind legs and the tail of a snake. The people of Delphi look on.Top left, Diana, Jupiter & Minerva.
13 x 8.3cm
Inscription: 'S. F.' (Stephanus fecit). " CVM PRI REGIS"
"FATIDICI PYTHON OBSESSOR FONTIS ET ANTRI, / OCCIDIT A PVERI CONFOSSVS APOLLINIS ARCV."

Condition: Small tear bottom edge; cut close to border

Reference: Robert-Dumesnil 134

2. Leto and the Lycian Peasants
Leto cursing the Lycian peasants & Leto, carrying Apollo and Diana, running from Juno on winged dragon,
11.1 x 9cm
Inscription: "S.F. CVM PRI REGIS"
"LATONAM LYCIVS DVM STAGNIS ARCET AGRESTIS RANA FIT: ET MERITAS STAGNI LVIT INCOLA POENAS"

Cut outside of platemark

Condition: Missing-area on right-edge; minor damage on edges, outside the border-line. Was mounted by hinge at top

Reference: Robert-Dumesnil 133

Étienne Delaune or Stephanus (c.1518 – 1583 or 1595) was a French sculptor, goldsmith and printmaker. In 1552 appointed to the royal mint, leading to commissions from French king & court. Later he engraved prints after Raphael, and the Italian masters of Fontainebleau. He made numerous small, high-quality prints. He often marked his prints with his first name or initial (S., S. F., S. or Stephanus fecit).