Pierre Audouin’s etching with engraving, “La Belle Jardinière”, 1803, after Raphael

Pierre Audouin (1768–1822)

“La Belle Jardinière” (aka “Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist”), 1803, after the intermediary design by Pierre Paul Prud'hon (aka Pierre Paul Prudhon) (1758–1823), after the painting of the same title, 1507/8, by Raphael (aka Raffaello Santi) (1483–1520) and finished by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio (1483–1561), in the collection of the Musée du Louvre, printed and published in Paris by Felix Hermet (fl.1878–1803) as plate 17 in the series of 73 engraved plates, “Le Musée du Louvre” (see https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5001797), also published in the first edition by Ramboz (fl.1793–1830) in the series of 343 numbered plates, “Le Musée français”, in four volumes issued between 1803 and 1812 (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Mus%C3%A9e_fran%C3%A7ais and https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1875-0410-469).

Etching and engraving on chine collé on wove paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 57.4 x 39.9 cm; (plate) 41.1 x 29.5 cm; (chine collé) 40 x 28.7 cm; (image borderline) 34.5 x 23.2 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “'Raphael, Pinx./FÈLIX HERMET. Imprimeur Editeur, PARIS”; (centre) “Prud'hon, del./ LA BELLE JARDINIERE/ ECOLE ITALIENNE/ 17”; (right) “P. Audouin, Sculp. An 11. (1803)/ MUSÉE DU LOUVRE”.

Le Blanc 1 (Charles Le Blanc 1890, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 1, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 69, cat. no. 1); Henri Béraldi 1885–1892, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes”, vol. 1, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, pp. 41–43 (not described by title but but briefly mentioned in the series on p. 42); Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, vol. I, page 225.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Virgin with Child and the infant Baptist in a pastoral landscape, traditionally known as 'la Belle Jardinière'; the Virgin sits at centre, supporting the Christ child who stands next to her, holding a book in her lap; St John the Baptist kneels at the Virgin's feet; after Raphael. 1803/ Etching and engraving” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1856-0712-366).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.72708.

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression with generously wide margins. Beyond minor waviness to the sheet the print is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this huge engraving of stunning beauty in near pristine condition for the total cost of AU$235 (currently US$175.68/EUR162.94/GBP135.12 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 masterwork of 19^th century engraving (with etching), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.