Eugène Gaujean, “Orphée”, 1877, after Gustave Moreau

Eugène Gaujean (1850–1900)

“Orphée”, 1877, etching after Gustave Moreau’s (1826–1898) painting, “Thracian Girl Carrying the Head of Orpheus on his Lyre”, 1865, in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Head_of_Orpheus.jpg). Proof impression before lettering with details showing Alfred Salmon (fl.1863–1894) as the printer and publication in Paris in the art periodical, “L'Art” (volume II, 1877).

Etching on heavy wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 32.8 x 22.4 cm; (platemark) 27.6 x 17.9 cm; (image borderline) 24.3 x 15.4 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower-left corner) “1865 Gustave Moreau”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Gustave Moreau pinx./ L’Art.”; (centre) “ORPHÉE/ Musée du Luxembourg)”; (right) “Gaujean sc.”

Beraldi 3 (Henri Béraldi 1887, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes: DORÉ–GAVARD”, vol. 6, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 244, cat. no. 3); IFF 5 (Jean Laren 1954, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, vol. 8, p. 452, cat. no. 5 [see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489221t/f464).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1878-0511-361 (BM inv. no. 1878,0511.361).

Condition: a strong and faultless impression in a pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this visually stunning etching—a true feast of textures and the finest of details— for AU$239 (approximately US$155.23, EUR 136.21 or GBP 114.74), including express mail shipping worldwide. Import duties, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching showing a young woman on the shore of Lesbos carrying the severed head of Orpheus—the legendary poet and charmer of fierce beasts—on his lyre after meeting a grisly death “at the hands of Thracian Mænads” (see https://victorianweb.org/decadence/painting/moreau/10.html), 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