Prints and Principles

Most of the recent posts give details about individual prints and earlier posts discuss some of the subtle principles guiding artists in making images meaningful and memorable. For prints that are unsold, click "Items still available for sale" below. All other prints are no longer available. My contact email is oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com and my Instagram username is @printsandprinciples. I have created a separate blog to show my own work: https://printsandprinciplesjamesbrown.blogspot.com

Friday, 25 April 2025

Armand Mathey-Doret, “Portrait of Elena Grimaldi Cattaneo”, after Anthony van Dyck

Armand Mathey-Doret (aka Armand-Emile Mathey-Doret) (1853–1931)

“Portrait of Elena Grimaldi Cattaneo”, 1909, after Anthony van Dyck’s (aka Anthoni [Ridder] van Dijck; Antoon van Dijk; Anton van Dyck; Anthony van Dijck) (1599–1641) painting, “Marchesa Elena Grimaldi Cattaneo”, 1623 (see https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1231.html), a pencil signed proof-state impression of a vignette wiped section of a larger etching published in London by Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co (1760–) (see https://mercand.it/acquistiamo_stampa-armand-mathey-dipinto-van-dyck-ritratto-incisione-elena-grimaldi-cattaneo_3382).

Etching with vignette wiped plate tone on buff coloured wove paper, pencil signed by the artist.

Size: (sheet) 35.1 x 27.6 cm.

Pencil signed by Armand Mathey-Doret at lower right. Note that there is a soft pencil inscription verso.

Regarding the inscribed details for the two publishers along the upper edge of the plate, the following insights about the two companies is interesting and may help to explain why this etching was executed: “In 1907, in partnership with P. Colnaghi & Co., Knoedler acquired seven portraits of the Cattaneo family by Anthony van Dyck, of which three now form part of the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. In 1911, the firm sold Vermeer's Officer and Laughing Girl to Henry Clay Frick. By the early 20th century, the Knoedler Gallery had become one of the main suppliers of old master paintings in the United States and would continue to serve as a major conduit for the acquisition of masterworks” (Online Archive of California: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8sq91rk/entire_text/).

Condition: a strong impression creatively wiped to create a vignette image. Beyond minor surface marks, the sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this pencil signed artist’s proof that the artist has creatively wiped in the printing process to create a vignette portrait taken from a larger plate after a portrait by Van Dyck, for AU$293 (equivalent to approximately US$187.46, EUR 164.89, or GBP 140.78 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$293).

If you are interested in purchasing this extraordinarily unique etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.