Pietro Monaco, “Young Tobias Restoring His Old Father’s Sight”, c. 1730–50, after Domenico Fetti

Pietro Monaco (1707–1772)

“Young Tobias Restoring His Old Father’s Sight” (Il giovane Tobia che rende la vista al vecchio padre), circa 1730–1750

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with engraving on laid paper. The etching is plate 76 in the series “Raccolta di 112 Stampe di Pitture della Storia Sacra” (Collection of 112 Prints of Paintings from Sacred History). It is based on a design originating from a painting of unknown current location by Domenico Fetti (or Domenico Feti) (1589–1623). Fetti produced several versions of this subject, the closest to this engraving being “Tobias Healing his Father” (1620–23), held in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. See: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Domenico_Fetti_-_Tobias_Healing_his_Father_-_WGA7864.jpg.
This impression, inscribed with the plate number “76,” is likely a lifetime impression published by Monaco in Venice, as indicated in the plate, from the 1763 edition.

The impression is strong and well-printed. The sheet is in good condition, free of tears, holes, folds or significant stains, though there is fine surface dotting on the left side of the image.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 40.5 x 55.7 cm

• Platemark: 36.2 x 51.1 cm

• Outer image borderline: 35.7 x 50.5 cm

Plate lettering below the image along the lower edge:

• Centre: “IL GIOVANE TOBIA CHE RENDE LA VISTA AL VECCHIO PADRE./ Tunc sumens Tobias de felle piscis, linivit oculos patris sui. Tob. cap. XI. v. 13./ PITTURA DI DOMENICO FETTI, POSSEDUTA DALLA NOBIL FAMIGLIA GIOVANELLI, A S. AGOSTINO./ Pietro Monaco del: sco: e forma in Venezia”

• Right: “76.”

References:

• Apolloni 76 (Davide Apolloni, “Pietro Monaco e la Raccolta di Venti Dodici Stampe di Pitture della Storia Sacra,” 2000, Monfalcone, Edizioni della Laguna, p. 268, cat. no. 76)

• LeBlanc 188 (Charles Le Blanc, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire par J.Ch. Brunet”, 1856, vol. 3, p. 38, cat. no. 188). See https://archive.org/details/manueldelamateur03lebl/page/38/mode/2up

• Nagler 2 (G.K. Nagler, “Neues allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen”, 1840, Munich, EA Fleischmann, vol. 9, p. 387, cat. no. 2)

• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0520-763

• Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/762904

Price & Shipping:

AU$316 (approx. US$217.99 / €184.38 / £159.75), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in acquiring this large and beautifully light-filled etching by Monarco, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’m happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a smooth and safe transaction.