Jules Jacquemart, “L’Écurueil et la Mouche?”, 1862

Jules Jacquemart (also known as Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart) (1837–1880)

“L’Écurueil et la Mouche?” (The Squirrel and the Fly?) or “La Mouche et l'Écureuil (Fable à Faire)” (The Fly and the Squirrel [A Fable to Tell]), 1862

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with plate tone on cream Montgolfier laid paper, with wide margins. This impression was printed by Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907) and published in Paris in 1862 by A. Cadart & F. Chevalier (fl. 1861–1863) as plate 34 in the Society of Aquafortistes’ Eaux-Fortes Modernes.

The impression is richly inked and well-printed. Aside from a small hole in the right margin and a few minor spots, the sheet remains in good condition with no tears, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.3 x 39.4 cm

• Platemark: 23.1 x 25 cm

• Image borderline: 18.6 x 30.5 cm

Plate Lettering:

• Lower left: “J. Jacquemart sculp^t.”

• Lower centre: “L’ÉCURUEIL ET LA MOUCHE?/ Paris Publié par A. CADART & F. CHEVALIER, Éditeurs, Rue Richelieu, 66.”

• Upper right: “34”

• Lower right: “Imp. Delâtre, S^t. Jacques, 303, Paris.”

References:

• Béraldi 330; Bailly-Herzberg 34; Gonse 330

• The British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0610-907

• The print dealers, C & J Goodfriend, offer the following interesting discussion: “Or was he [Jacquemart] simply interested in delineating the textures and colours of the fur and a dead squirrel gave a far better opportunity than a live one? But then, why the fly? The ultimate question is: what is the significance of the question mark at the end of the title? Or is that a contribution of the typesetter – who didn’t know how to spell L’Écureuil? An interesting oddity and, as expected, supremely well etched.” (https://www.drawingsandprints.com/CurrentExhibition/detail.cfm?ExhibitionID=11&Exhibition=42).

Price & Shipping:

AU$297 (approximately US$203.54 / €173.25 / £150.88), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this intriguing still-life of a squirrel seemingly animated in its death accompanied by a housefly, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.