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

Monday, 4 August 2025

Victor Adam, “Cardinal de Retz Climbs onto the Parapet of the Pont Neuf to Harangue the People in 1648” & “A Barricade at the Pont Neuf in 1830”, 1841.

Victor Adam (aka Jean Victor Adam; Victor Vincent Adam) (1801–1866)

“Cardinal de Retz Climbs onto the Parapet of the Pont Neuf to Harangue the People. (War of the Fronde). August 20, 1648” (upper image) and “A Barricade at the Pont Neuf. 1830” (lower image), 1841. A two-panel lithograph printed by Alphonse Godard (fl.c.1841–1850) and published in Paris by Joseph Bulla & François Delarue (fl.1839–1849).

The upper panel shows a scene from the Fronde civil wars in France (1648–1653). I understand that the name of this war, “La Fronde”, refers to the slings used to smash windows. The lower panel draws a comparison with the upper panel by showing the same bridge barricaded during the July Revolution (aka The Three Glorious Days/Trois Glorieuses) of 1830. This is a rare proof-state impression with a printer’s proof on verso showing in an early state of another lithograph printed in a cool grey.

Lithograph printed in black on wove paper with another lithograph printed verso.

Size: (sheet) 33.8 x 24.9cm; (image borderline) 25.3 x 19.4cm.

Lettered on plate: (lower left) “[signature] E. Adam/ Paris, chez J. Bulla et F^ois. DELARUE S^urs. de la maison AUMONT, rue J.J. Rousseau,10.”; (upper centre on banner) “CHARTE//1648/1830//DIEU LE ROI”; (below upper image) “Le Cardinal de Retz monte sur le parapet du Pont neuf pour haranguer le peuple. (Guerre de la Fronde). 20 Août1648.”; (below lower image) “Une barricade au Pont neuf. 1830.”; (lower right) “Lith. de A. Godard, rue des Mathurins SJ. 14”.

The Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris offers a description of this print: https://www.parismuseescollections.paris.fr/fr/musee-carnavalet/oeuvres/le-cardinal-de-retz-monte-sur-le-parapet-du-pont-neuf-pour-haranguer-le#infos-principales.

Condition: a well-printed impression. Beyond minor surface marks (dustiness), the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this rare printer’s proof lithograph with a partially completed lithograph verso, for AU$224 (approximately US$145.14, EUR 125.55, or GBP 109.31), including express mail shipping worldwide. Import duties, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this curiously interesting lithograph showing two episodes of uprisings in France (vis. the Fonde in 1648 and the July Revolution in 1830) occurring on the Pont Neuf—the oldest standing bridge in Paris—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