Ferdinand Roybet’s etching, “Frontispiece to 'Eaux-Fortes Modernes'”, 1865

Ferdinand Roybet (aka Ferdinand V L Roybet) (1840–1920)

“Frontispiece to 'Eaux-Fortes Modernes'”, 1865, title plate to the series, “Eaux-Fortes Modernes”, printed by Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907) and published in Paris by Cadart & Luquet (fl. 1863–1867) in the fourth volume of sixty prints (beginning at plate 181 following on from the previous volume), “Eaux-Fortes Modernes: Originales et Inédites” (September 1865–August 1866), produced by the Société des Aquafortistes (Society of Etchers).

Etching laid paper (watermarked “AQUA-FORTISTES”) with margins as published and stamped with the Cadart & Luquet blindstamp at lower centre.

Size: (sheet) 51 x 35.1 cm; (plate) 24.6 x 34.4 cm; (image borderline) 30.6 x 23.5 cm.

Lettered in plate within the image borderline: (in window) “EAVX^.FORTES^.MODERNES/ PVBLIEES/ par/ LA SOCIETE/ DES AQVA^.FORTISTES/ 4^e ANNEE/ MDCCCLXVI”; (inscribed on folio at left) “ALBERT. DURER”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Roybet sculp^t./ QUATRIÈME ANNÉE.”; (centre) “LE REPOS./ Paris, Publié par CADART & LUQUET, Editeurs, 79, Rue Richelieu.”; (centre) “A. CADART & LUQUET./ ÉDITEURS - GÉRANTS DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DES AQUA-FORTISTES,/ 79, Rue de Richelieu,/ PARIS.”; (right) “Imp. Delâtre, Rue S^t. Jacques, 303, Paris./ 4^ÉME VOLUME.”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Frontispiece to 'Eaux-Fortes Modernes: Originales et Inédites', the fourth volume in a series produced by the Société des Aquafortistes; allegory of printmaking, with inscription regarding the volume in window, with printmaking equipment and bust (Paris: A Cadart & Luquet, Éditeurs). 1866
Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1866-1110-1355).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression with generously wide margins in almost pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this superb frontispiece etching for the fourth volume of prints published by the Society of Etchers, “Modern Etchings” (Eaux-Fortes Modernes), showing not only a still-life assortment etching tools (vz. needle, burnisher, ink dabbers, tarlatan, magnifying glass, funnel, acid and acid bath), but also references to past printmaking luminaries (viz. a folio lettered with the name of Durer and a bust of possibly the greatest of all etchers, Rembrandt)—for AU$316 in total (currently US$214.85/EUR1203.87/GBP175.16 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 remarkable etching that to my eyes crystallises the tools and aspirations of the Etching Revival movement of the late nineteenth century in France, 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