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Friday 15 November 2019

Pietro Aquila (1640–c1700) “Pieta with Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Francis and Two Angels”, c1650


Pietro Aquila (1640–c1700)
“Pieta with Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint Francis and Two Angels”, c1607–1700, in reverse after the painting by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609), “Pietà with Sts Francis and Mary Magdalen” (1602–1607), in the collection of the Musée du Louvre, Paris (Room 716) (see https://www.wga.hu/html/c/carracci/annibale/2/pieta_s.html).
Etching on laid paper, trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 48.4 x 33.3 cm; (image borderline) 46.2 x 32.5 cm.
Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “Si Vendono a S. Ignatio da Arnoldo V. Wofterhout” (my reading of this inscription may have errors).
Lettered on plate in three lines of Italian below the image borderline: “”Al. … Lorenzo Bernini/ Se da lungi …Anibale/ Caracci …. Pietro Aquilal”.
M.26 (reference offered by Harvard Art Museums)
See a brief description of this print at the Fogg Museum (Harvard Art Museums):
The following insightful description of the composition is offered by Maggy Krebs (from the website, wefoundlove):
“The subject is the crucified Christ, in repose. His lifeless body draws us to a young face to increase emotion, as He is held by the young Mary. She, while keeping her composure, bears a most solemn expression.
Mary Magdalene is next to her with one hand covering her chest and one hand outstretched, engaging the audience into the scene. On the left, marvelously, is St. Francis, with his arms crossed; nearly twelve centuries would pass before Francis was born, so it is likely that he is portrayed in this scene to confirm the saintly bearing he had attained for his own life’s imitation of Christ. Finally, there are two angels illustrated at the bottom who are weeping. One angel looks out at us, engaging us like Magdalene—to respond and contemplate the subject more deeply. The other takes refuge behind Christ’s right arm. His glare might suggest that price of salvation would be soon forgotten and the pain which humanity has brought to Heaven.”
Condition: a slightly silvery impression (matching the same silvery grey as the impression held by the Fogg Museum (Harvard Art Museums) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pietro_Aquila_(after_Annibale_Carracci),.jpg). There is a restored tear in the lower text box, otherwise the sheet is in very good condition for its large size and considerable age. The sheet is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.
I am selling this sensitively executed, large and rare etching—based on my online research, only the Fogg Museum seems to hold a copy of this print!—for the total cost of AU$360 (currently US$244.52/EUR221.80/GBP189.96 the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.
If you are interested in this delicately beautiful etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold












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