Wallerant Vaillant’s mezzotint, “Christ Triumphant”, c1668

Wallerant Vaillant (aka Vallerant Vaillant) (1623–1677)—"one of the first artists to use the mezzotint technique, which he probably helped to develop” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallerant_Vaillant).

“Christ Triumphant” (aka “Triomferende Christus”), c1668 (1658–1677), late edition, c1822 (based on the watermark), printed from the original plate.

Note that there may be two different versions of this mezzotint (both signed in the plate, “W V”) executed by different artists: the Rijksmuseum’s copy, which this impression matches, by Wallerant Vailliant (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.46558) and the British Museum’s copy by William Vincent (fl.1680s) (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1851-1213-662) that is almost identical to Vaillant’s print, but with subtle differences (viz. the sky behind Christ has sacred rays portrayed that are not featured in Vaillant’s print; the fold of cloth above the chalice is slightly different and other minor discrepancies). Interestingly, both artists have prints signed with their full surname, but some of Wallerant Vaillant’s prints are inscribed with just his initials “WV”—admittedly incised with significant stylistic differences to this print—(see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.46682), whereas I have been unsuccessful in finding any prints by William Vincent inscribed with only his initials … but of course they may exist.

Mezzotint on wove paper (watermark “1822”) with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 35.4 x 24.5 cm; (plate) 18.6 x 14.1 cm; (image borderline) 18.3 x 13.8 cm.

Inscribed in the plate at lower left corner: “W V”.

Hollstein Dutch 28 (Ger Luijten [comp.] 1987, “Hollstein: Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts 1450–1700: Jan van der Vaart to Gerard Valck”, vol. 31, Amsterdam, Van Gendt, p. 78, cat. no. 28).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(Transl.) “Christ stands with the cross in his hand on a cloudscape. Before him two kneeling angels with the crown of thorns and the chalice. Cherubim in the sky” (inv. no. RP-P-1910-6893).

Condition: a strong and well-printed late impression showing very few signs of wear to the printing plate. The sheet is in extraordinarily good condition (near pristine) with no tears, holes, folds, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this very fine and historically important print—in the sense that it was executed by the first professional mezzotint artist who also helped to perfect the labour-intensive process of mezzotint—for the total cost of AU$273 (currently US$211.45/EUR173.73/GBP149.36 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this early milestone in the art of mezzotint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.