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

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Charles Joseph Natoire, “St Matthew Holding a Tablet,” c. 1750, after Pietro da Cortona

Charles Joseph Natoire (1700–1777)

“St Matthew Holding a Tablet” (descriptive title only; the proposed saint may be incorrect), circa 1750 (or between 1723–29 or 1751–77—based on the artist’s travels to Rome)

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching printed in brown-black ink on fine laid paper, with a narrow margin surrounding the platemark. The composition is after a design by Pietro da Cortona (also known as Pietro Berrettini) (1597–1669) and may be part of a series intended for art students to study Cortona’s ceiling frescoes. Although the specific site of Cortona’s painting of this apostle or prophet cannot be precisely identified, the figure’s dramatic foreshortening, combined with the perspective of the platform on which the figure rests his leg and the shadows shaping the surrounding niche, suggests an elevated location such as a cove in the Palazzo Barberini ceiling, featuring Cortona’s “Triumph of Divine Providence” (1633–1639), or possibly a pendentive or spandrel in the domed ceiling of Chiesa Nuova (Santa Maria in Vallicella), executed by Cortona between 1647 and 1665.

The impression is strong, crisp, and well-printed. Aside from minor edge marks, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 28 x 20.7 cm

• Platemark: 27.2 x 20.2 cm

• Image borderline: 25.7 x 18.8 cm

Inscriptions on Plate:

• Lower left: “Retour/ d'après Piet./ de Cortone/ … [scratched deletion marks obscuring cancelled text]”

• Lower right: “C. S.”

Price & Shipping:

AU$244 (approximately US$173.22/ €146.84 / £128.15), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this exceptionally rare etching exemplifying the Baroque style, where figures seem to “spill” into the viewer’s space, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.