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, 14 October 2026

François Hubert, “Study of a Chestnut Tree”, 1844, after Jean Baptiste Louis Hubert

Jean Baptiste Louis Hubert (1801–1865) (draughtsman) and François Hubert (1805–?) (lithographer)

“Study of a Chestnut Tree” (French: “Étude de Châtaignier”), 1844

Historical Context:

François Hubert (1805–?)—not to be confused with the 18th-century French copper-plate line engraver and etcher of the same name—began his career operating print presses under a master printer named Boudié in Reims. In 1833, he successfully applied to the French government for dual corporate patents (brevets) to operate independently as an official letters-printer, bookseller, and master lithographer.

Because of his masterful handle on tonal shading, prominent Paris print workshops like Formentin & Cie routinely contracted him to translate raw graphite or ink drawings from landscape draftsmen like Jean-Baptiste Louis Hubert onto lithographic stones.

Technical Details & Condition:

Colour lithograph printed from three stones—a beige tint block and two shades of grey—on heavy wove paper with generously wide margins as issued.

This large and finely executed lithograph is Plate 9 from the series of twelve plates titled “Études d’Arbres” (Tree Studies). The composition was designed by Jean-Baptiste Louis Hubert and lithographed on stone by François Hubert. It was printed by the workshop of Formentin & Co. and co-published in Paris by Jeannin and in London by the Anaglyphic Company in 1844.

This is a strong, crisp, and faultless (museum-quality) impression in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 52.1 x 41.9 cm
• Image borderline: 39.8 x 29 cm

In-Plate/Stone lettering:

• Within the image: (lower left) “CHÂTAIGNIER”; (lower right) “Hubert”
• Below the image: (left) “Paris publié par JEANNIN, Editeur Place du Louvre, 20.”; (centre) “Imp. Lith. Formentin & C^ie, 10. Rue des S^ts. Péres. / Etudes d’Arbres par Hubert.”; (right) “London, published 15 August 1844 by the ANAGLYPHiC COMPANY, 25 Bermers S^t. Oxford S^t.”

Catalogue Reference:

• IFF 15 (Jean Adhémar, et al., “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: GUILLAUME–HUMBERT”, vol. 10, 1958, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, p. 511, cat. no. 15) —— Available via Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Gallica): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489209c/f523.item

Price & Shipping:

AU$233 (approximately US$163.21 / €145.58 / £123), including worldwide express shipping. Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in this simply spectacular lithograph of a Chestnut tree, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.