Villeneuve & Adam, “Cours de la Massa”, 1828

Louis Jules Frédéric Villeneuve (1796–1842) and Victor Adam (1801–1866)

“Cours de la Massa” (The course of the Massa River)—the Massa is a glacial river fed by the Aletsch glacier, coursing through a deep gorge, the Massaschlucht, in Valais, Switzerland, before flowing into the Rhône, 1828

Technical Details & Condition:

Lithograph printed on pale grey chine collé on heavy wove paper, with wide margins. It was published by Engelmann & Cie as Plate 23 in a series of 31 lithographs illustrating the fourth volume of Adrien de Golbéry’s “Lettres sur la Suisse” (Letters on Switzerland) that focused on the Lake Geneva, Chamonix, and Valais regions. The lithograph was printed by Godefroy Engelmann I (1788–1839) in Paris, after a drawing by Louis Jules Frédéric Villeneuve executed from direct observation (en plein air) of the surrounding landscape and studies of the figures by Victor Adam (also known as Victor Jean Adam and Victor Vincent Adam) (1801–1866).

The impression is strong and evenly printed. Aside from a small dot in the margin at lower left and slight waviness to the margin at right, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 47.1 x 30.3 cm
• Chine collé: 30.4 x 21.7 cm
• Image borderline: 28.2 x 19.5 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left corner: “4^e: P.” (abbreviation signifying that this print is part [Partie] of the fourth volume of “Lettres sur la Suisse”)
• Upper right corner: “Pl. 23.”
• Lower left: “Villeneuve 1828. Fig par V. Adam.”  
• Lower centre: “COURS DE LA MASSA”
• Lower right: “Lith. de Engelmann, rue du Faub. Montmartre N: 6 à Paris.”

References:

• Jean-Victor de Constant Rebecque & Philippe-Amédée de Golbéry, Lettres sur la Suisse, Fourth Part (Lake Geneva, Chamonix, Valais), Paris: Godefroy Engelmann, 1827/1828, Plate 23
• Nicolas-Philibert Adelon (ed.), Bibliothèque helvétique: ou Recueil de pièces concernant la Suisse, Vol. 4, Paris, 1827
• French National Library (Bibliothèque nationale de France), Department of Prints and Photography (Département des Estampes et de la photographie), Ser. Lettres sur la Suisse
• Hamburger Kunsthalle: https://online-sammlung.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/de/objekt/kb-1863-85-524-IV-30
• Henri Beraldi, Les Graveurs du Dix-Neuvième Siècle: Saint-Marcel – Zwinger, Vol. XII, Paris: Librairie L. Conquet, 1892, pp. 242–243 (Discusses Villeneuve’s Alpine landscape series generally; this specific plate unlisted)

Price & Shipping:

AU$222 (approximately US$154.46 / €135.12 / £116.68), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

Capturing the thrilling peril of 19th-century Alpine adventure, this dramatic scene pits hunter-adventurers against a breathless abyss and a terrifyingly fragile footbridge. To acquire this exceptional lithograph, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.