Martin Elias Ridinger, “A White Badger in a Rocky Landscape”, c.1750s

Martin Elias Ridinger (1730–1780) after the design by his father, Johann Elias Ridinger (1698–1767). Note that the British museum has attributed this print to Johann Elias Ridinger (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-395), but the inscribed production details on the plate advise that the father designed and published the print and his son executed it.

“A White Badger in a Rocky Landscape”, c.1750s, plate 74 in the series, (transl.) “Marvellous Deer and other Strange Animals” (see Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, p. 276 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/276/mode/2up]), published posthumously by Johann Elias Ridinger in 1768 in Augsburg.

Regarding the series in which this etching features (“Marvellous Deer and other Strange Animals”), Thienemann (1856) offers the following expanded description of the animals portrayed: (transl.) “Exact and correct representations of the most wondrous deer, as well as other unusual animals, hunted, shot, captured alive, or kept by great men themselves, conceived and produced with the high trust and pleasure of all friends and admirers of rarities found in nature” (p. 62 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/62/mode/2up]).

Etching on laid paper with a small margin around the image borderline and writing edge backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 33.6 x 25.6cm; (image borderline) 28.5 x 24.4cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline: (right) “74”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Joh. El. Ridinger inv. del. et exc. Aug. Vind.”; (centre) “Diser sehr rare weisse Dachs, welcher mit gelb röthlichten und dun-/ ckel castanien flecken gespringet war, ist A^o. 1724. den 5. gtoris im/ Parck beÿ S^t. Hubertsburg ausgegraben und behaezt worden.” ([transl.] “This very rare white badger, which was spotted with yellow, reddish and dark chestnut, was dug up and kept in the park near St. Hubertsburg on the 5th of August 1724.”); (right) “Mart. El. Ridinger sculpsit.”

Thienemann 316 (Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, “Leben und Wirken des ... Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger ….”, Leipzig, Rudolph Weigel, p. 75, cat. no. 316 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/74/mode/2up]).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline and writing edge, laid onto archival (millennium-quality) washi paper that provides generous margins. Beyond restoration to the chipped upper right corner, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

I am selling this marvellously endearing etching of white badger enjoying the first rays of morning sun, for the total cost of AU$302 (approximately US$194, EUR 171.82, or GBP 145.63), this includes worldwide express postage and handling. Please note that any applicable import duties or taxes imposed by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb representation of a rare white badger sporting its assortment of spots—note the considerable and subtle skill of the artist to denote that the badger’s hair is unmistakably white with mid-toned spots—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.