Adolphe Varin’s engraving, “Without Bacchus and Ceres, Venus Freezes”, 1840, after Goltzius, Abraham Bloemaert and Jan Saenredam

Adolphe Varin (aka Pierre Adolphe Varin) (1821–1897)

“Without Bacchus and Ceres, Venus Freezes” (aka “Sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus”), 1840, scratch-lettered impression (possibly before formal lettering), after designs by Hendrik Goltzius (aka Hendrick Goltzius) (1558–1617) and Abraham Bloemaert (aka Abraham Bloemaart, Abraham) (1564–1651) and after Jan Saenredam’s (c1565–1607) engraving (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1928-1212-116), published in Paris by Victor Jeanron (fl. c1840)—possibly the son of the famous painter and writer, Philippe-Auguste Jeanron (10 May 1809 – 8 April 1877).

Engraving on heavy wove paper, trimmed along (or slightly within) the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 26.7 x 21.4 cm; (image borderline) 22.9 x 20 cm.

Scratch-inscribed in plate above the image borderline: (centre) “Goltius” (note that the letter, “z”, is not inscribed).

Scratch-inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “varin adolphe s. 1840”; (left-of-centre) “d'apres Goltius.”; (right) “a Paris chez Victor Jeanron Rue Bleu 34”.

Although Aldophe Varin’s skills as a printmaker seem to have been overlooked by the gate-keepers of history, he was well-regarded by his contemporaries—which is hardly surprising given the quality of this reproductive engraving. Indeed, in the 1925 edition of “Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers”, vol. 5, Varin is described as “…one of the most industrious and conscientious of modem French etchers and engravers” (p. 265; see https://archive.org/details/bryansdictionary05bryauoft/page/265/mode/1up).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression, trimmed around the platemark and laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. There is a pale stain at the lower-left corner, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition with tears, folds, abrasions or foxing.

I am selling this magnificently executed engraving copying the great Goltzius’ design (as noted in the scratched lettering in the plate) and, more precisely, the famous engraving by Jan Saenredam designed by Abraham Bloemaert, for the total cost of AU$314 (currently US$209.88/EUR189.90/GBP167.16 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 superb engraving, 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