Jean Baptiste Huet, “Title Plate to ‘Œuvres de J. B. Huet’”, c.1796

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

“Title Plate to ‘Œuvres de J. B. Huet’”, c.1796 (BM 1798–99), from the series of thirty-eight etchings that is the first part to a volume of etchings by the artist titled in the plate, “Œuvres de J. B. Huet”, also known as “Cahiers d'Études”, published in Paris by the artist’s son, Jean Baptiste Huet the younger (inscribed in plate as “Huet fils”) (1772–1852) between 1796 and 1799. Note that the British Museum holds an impression of the title plate to the second part of the same volume of the series and offers an account of the publication details to the series (see BM inv. no. 1860,0211.181).

Etching on laid paper (lettered watermark) trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 48.1 x 34.6cm; (image borderline) 44.9 x 31.8cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper centre) “ŒUVRES/ DE/ J. B. HÜET.”; (within the image borderline at lower left edge) “J. B. Hüet l'an 7”; (below the image borderline at centre) “A Paris, chez Huet fils, Rue de la Liberté, N^o.88.”

See the description of this print offered by the British Museum (inv. no. 1860,0211.204).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression in excellent condition for its considerable age and size with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this rare title plate etching that is outstanding in terms of the print’s huge size and the sensitive rendering of the wide range of animals portrayed (viz.  horse, elephant, deer, cow, dog, goat, lion, sheep, rabbit, camel, hippopotamus, frog, donkey, wolf, owl and no doubt other critters that I am unable to identify), for the total cost of AU$332 (currently/approximately US$222.83/EUR205.03/GBP170.82 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$332) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this spectacular title page to a compendium of the artist’s prints, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

Jean Baptiste Huet, two panels of dog studies, 1995/96

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

(Upper image) “Two Head Studies of Dogs Facing Left” and (lower image) “Two Head Studies of Dogs Facing Right” (descriptive titles only), 1795/96. Both panels are sections cut from the larger plate, plate 3, from the series of thirty-eight plates, “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet” (aka “Cahiers d'Études”), published in the first volume. See descriptions of both panels offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1860-0211-222 and https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1860-0211-221.

Etchings on laid paper trimmed with margins around the image borderline and backed on the same support sheet.

Size: (sheets) 8.7 x 15.7 cm; (image borderlines) 7.6 x 14.6 cm

Inscribed in plate at upper left in the upper image and upper right in the lower image (with minor differences): “J. B. hüet l'an 4”.

Condition: both panels are strong impressions but the upper panel has flattened printer’s creases and chipping along the lower edge. Both panels are laid onto the same sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this pair of etchings extracted from a larger composite image by a previous collector for the total cost of AU$220 (currently US$146.95/EUR133.41/GBP112.69 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$220) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous pair of dog studies, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Four of Jean Baptiste Huet's etchings from “Cahiers d'études”, 1796–1799

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

Four etchings cut from two larger plates with frieze-like compositions from the series of 38 plates, “Cahiers d'études” (aka “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet”), published in several parts and dated 1796–1799 (see https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?assetId=552843001&objectId=1522791&partId=1):

FIRST ETCHING FROM THE TOP

“Plate 16 (upper)”, 1796–97, depicting what the BM describes as “Fame, flying to right, and blowing trumpet”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522922&partId=1&searchText=Jean+Huet&page=1).

Size: (sheet) 5.3 x 16.4 cm; (image borderline) 4.3 x 15.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. B. Hüet l'an 5”.

SECOND ETCHING FROM THE TOP

“Plate 16 (lower)”, 1796–97, depicting what the BM describes as “two angels adoring Child and Holy Ghost”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522953&partId=1&searchText=Jean+Huet&page=1).

Size: (sheet) 5.8 x 16.1 cm; (image borderline) 4.3 x 14.9 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. B. Hüet l'an 5”.

THIRD ETCHING FROM THE TOP

“Plate 34 (upper)”, 1798–99, depicting what the BM describes as “cupids and baby satyrs; on the right, two cupids fighting; on the left baby satyr holding back another with a scarf”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1523500&partId=1&searchText=Jean+Huet&page=1).

Size: (sheet) 6.1 x 16.2 cm; (image borderline) 4.5 x 15 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. B. Hüet l'an 7”.

FOURTH ETCHING FROM THE TOP

“Plate 34 (lower)”, 1798–99, depicting what the BM describes as “cupids holding hands and dancing”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1523501&partId=1&searchText=Jean+Huet&page=1).

Size: (sheet) 6.1 x 16.5 cm; (image borderline) 4.5 x 15.4 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “J. B. Hüet l'an 7”.

__________

Condition of the four etchings: near faultless impressions in excellent condition (the lower etching has an abrasion on its lower borderline) with small margins around the image borderlines and nested on the same support sheet.

I am selling this set of four etchings trimmed (by a previous collector) from two larger plates executed by the principal designer for the Oberkampf textile company that is famous for its innovation in textile printing by using engraved metal plates (instead of woodcuts) “fixed on cylindrical drums” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christophe-Philippe_Oberkampf), for a total cost of AU$280 for the set (currently US$193.46/EUR173.67/GBP147.93 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this set of 18^th century French ornamental designs, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This set of prints has been sold

Jean Baptiste Huet’s etching, “Jeune Bergère et ses Enfants”, 1795

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

“Jeune Bergère et ses Enfants” (Young Shepherdess and her children), 1795, after a drawing by the artist from the series of 38 plates “Cahiers d'études” (aka “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet”), proof before lettering for publication (viz. “A Paris chez Huet Fils Rue ci dev. des Fossés Mr le Prince N.88.”) in Paris by the artist’s son, Jean Baptiste Huet the younger (1772–1852).

Note: my attribution of the date of execution of this etching as 1795 is based on the inscription on the plate below the artist’s signature: “l'an 5” (year 5). The British Museum attributes the date of this print to between 1796 and 1797, but I suspect that this attribution may be the date of the print’s publication rather than the date of its execution.

Etching on laid paper trimmed unevenly with a small margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet trimmed unevenly) 21 x 33 cm; (image borderline) 18.4 x 30.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline at upper right: ”J. B. Huet / l'an 5”.

Proof state (lifetime impression) before lettering with publication details.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (after lettering for publication):

“Plate 7, bottom: seated peasant woman looking at the child sitting at her feet and stroking a sheep; in the background, on the left two children playing with a goat; cut out from a larger plate. 1796/97 Etching”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522966&partId=1&searchText=Jean-Baptiste+HUET+&page=1)

Note that I have previously posted a pair of etchings by this artist that are (surprisingly) still available:

https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2018/07/a-pair-of-jean-baptiste-huets-etchings.html

Condition: richly inked and near faultless impression, trimmed with uneven margins around the image borderline and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a pale dot stain towards the lower left corner otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).

I am selling this luminous etching from the late 1700s—note how the artist has spotlit the resting shepherdess and silhouetted her children playing with a goat in the darkness—for AU$260 (currently US$178.72/EUR160.11/GBP140.50 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this strong proof-state etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold (along with the two earlier prints by Huet mentioned in the discussion)

A pair of Jean Baptiste Huet’s etchings of heads, 1796/7

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

Left image:

“Head of a bearded man, in profile to right, looking upwards”, 1796/7, the middle-left section of plate 10 from the series of 38 plates, “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet” (aka “Cahiers d'études”), published according to BM curator: “in several parts and dated 1796–1799 (Republican years 4-7)” (1860,0211.181).

Etching on heavy cream laid paper trimmed with margins around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 17.8 x 17.4 cm; (image borderline) 16.4 x 15.1 cm

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left): “J. B. Hüet l'an 5”.

Condition: faultless impression, trimmed irregularly from a larger composite image—this is the middle-left section—with margins around the image borderline in near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing and with minimal signs of handling).

The British Museum offers a description of this print:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522868&partId=1&searchText=Jean-Baptiste+Huet&page=1

Right image:

“Head of a bearded man, in profile to left, looking downwards”, 1796/7, the middle-right section of plate 10 from the series of 38 plates, “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet”.

Etching on heavy cream laid paper trimmed with margins around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 17.8 x 16.9 cm; (image borderline) 16.4 x 15.1 cm

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left): “J. B. Hüet l'an 5”.

Condition: faultless impression, trimmed irregularly from a larger composite image—this is the middle-right section—with margins around the image borderline in near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing and with minimal signs of handling).

The British Museum offers a description of this print:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522871&partId=1&searchText=Jean-Baptiste+Huet&page=1

I am selling this pair of etchings extracted from a larger composite image by a previous collector for AU$220 (currently US$151.22/EUR135.48/GBP118.88 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this pair of etchings by Huet, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

These prints have been sold

To my eyes these head studies seem to have their origins in the work of Rubens. Whether or not this attribution to the master of the Baroque Age is correct is probably irrelevant. After all, the theatricality of the lighting, the angling of the heads along with the captured narrative of what their faces express and the curving flow of the linework that animates the heads—brings them “to life”—has the hallmarks of the Baroque period style with which Jean Baptiste Huet is historically affiliated.

From a personal way of looking at Huet’s technique, I am impressed by the way that he “clusters” his marks to give the illusion that he has used a broad drawing implement for the closer features of the heads while the lines describing the energised background are by contrast comparatively fine. I am also impressed that Huet uses dots to give variation to the length of his lines and alternates between creating the illusion of white/negative lines and black/positive lines in his modelling of hair and beard. Indeed, Huet is so skilful in his depiction of the figures’ facial hair that there is no doubt (at least in my mind) that these men are blonde/light haired—perhaps Norsemen?