Charles Waltner’s etching, “Aretino”, 1905, after Titian’s “A Man with a Quilted Sleeve”, c1509

Charles Waltner (aka Charles Albert Waltner) (1846–1925)

“Aretino” (aka “A Man with a Quilted Sleeve”), 1905, a bon à tirer proof (i.e. an “okay-to-print” proof by which a later edition of impressions should be matched/compared in terms of quality) on vellum (usually calf skin), signed and annotated in pencil by Charles Waltner, after Titian’s (1488/90–1576) famous portrait “A Man with a Quilted Sleeve”, c1509, in the National Gallery, London (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_with_a_Quilted_Sleeve).

The printer is Ch. Wittmann (fl. 1891–1907; active in Paris) and the dual publishers are L. H. Lefevre & Son in London and David Bendann in Baltimore and New York (as inscribed in the plate).

Note that Titian’s painting may not be a portrait of Pietro Aretino (1492–1556), as the identity of the sitter is uncertain. The title of this print is based on the published title, “Aretino” (see https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/aretino-print-made-by-charles-waltner-18461925-french-news-photo/1314680203). For those unfamiliar with Pietro Aretino, he was an Italian writer and critic of great influence in his time and was arguably the model of St Bartholomew in Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement”, portrayed holding what is (again arguably) Michelangelo’s flayed skin.

Etching with plate tone on vellum with wide margins, a bon à tirer proof hand-signed and annotated by the etcher.

Size: (sheet) 62 x 48 cm; (plate) 53.3 x 42.2 cm; (image borderline) 36 x 45.5 cm.

Lettered in plate: (above the image borderline at centre) “Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1905 at the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington U.S.A.”; (below the image borderline at centre) “Published 1905 by L. H. Lefevre & Son, 1^a King Street, S^t James’s London S.W. and in the United States of America by David Bendann, Baltimore & New York Printed by Ch. Wittmann, Paris”.

Inscribed in pencil below the image borderline: (right) “Bon à tirer/ Ch. Waltner”.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed/faultless impression with generously wide margins. There are minor flaws, age toning and crinkling that are appropriate to natural skin (vellum).

I am selling this huge and exceptionally rare/unique “bon à tirer” (ok to print) hand-signed proof on genuine vellum for the total cost of AU$398 (currently US$288.01/EUR255.52/GBP214.77 at the time of posting 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 breathtakingly fine 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