Bernard Picart, “Erigone and Bacchus”, c. 1730, after Guido Reni

Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

“Erigone and Bacchus” (titled in the plate “Erigone et Bachus en Grape de Raisin” [Erigone and Bacchus as a Bunch of Grapes]), c. 1730 (1725–1733)

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with plate tone, printed in brown ink on wove paper.

This is Plate 30 from “Impostures innocentes, ou Recueil d’estampes d’après divers peintres illustres” (Innocent Impostures, or a Collection of Prints after Various Illustrious Painters). The series was engraved by Picart in the final years of his life and first published posthumously in Amsterdam by his widow, “chez la Veuve B. Picart”, in 1734. The composition is based on a figure by Guido Reni (1575–1642).

The impression is strong and crisp, and the sheet is in near-pristine condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 21.5 x 26.8 cm
• Platemark: 11.9 x 13.2 cm
• Image borderline: 10.9 x 12.5 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image borderline):

• Left: “Guido Rheni invenit”
• Centre: “Erigone, et Bachus en Grape de Raisin.”
• Right: “B. Picart sculp.”

References:

• LeBlanc 71 (Ch. Leblanc, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes”, vol. 3, 1888, Paris, Émile Bouillon, p. 492, cat. no. 71)
• The complete publication, “Impostures innocentes, ou Recueil d'estampes d'après divers peintres illustres”, featuring this print, is available digitally via the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_impostures-innocentes-o_picart-bernard_1756/page/n61/mode/2up
• The British Museum: Museum Number 1861,1109.772 —https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1861-1109-772

Price & Shipping:

AU$226 (approximately US$157.35 / €139.95 / £118.15), inclusive of worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this sensitively executed etching depicting the daughter of Icarius—the mythical nymph Erigone—encountering Bacchus (Dionysus), who appears to her in the guise of a bunch of grapes, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’ll be happy to send you a PayPal invoice for a smooth and secure purchase.

Adriaen Collaert, “Adulthood Under the Influence of the Sun”, 1581, after Maarten de Vos

Adriaen Collaert (c. 1560–1618)

“Adulthood Under the Influence of the Sun” (also known as “Sol” and “Volwassenheid onder invloed van de zon”), 1581

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraving on fine laid paper with full margins as published. This is plate 4 in the series of eight engravings (including the title plate) titled “Septem Planetæ” (aka “The Seven Planets and Seven Ages”; “De zeven planeten en zeven leeftijden”; “Septem planetae, septem hominis”), illustrating the power of the seven planets over the seven ages of mankind. The work is based on a design by Maarten de Vos (aka Maarten de Vos; Maerten de Vos) (1532–1602) and was published in Antewerp by Gerard de Jode (aka Geeraert/Geerart/Gerardo/Gheerde/Gheraerde/Girard de Jode) (1516/17–1591).

The engraving is a well-printed slightly silvery impression. Aside from holes at the upper edge of the margin (possibly binding holes) and minor staining in the margin at upper right, the sheet is in good condition, free from tears, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 36.5 x 25.3 cm
• Platemark: 30.3 x 22.3 cm
• Image borderline: 28.7 x 21.8 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Within the image borderline: (upper centre) “SOL”; (lower left) “HONOS”
• Below the image: (centre) “Est HONOR hunc ætas Sectatur quarta Iuuentus / Quartus et his claris SOL quoque clarus adest” (translation: There is Honour, which the fourth age—Youth—pursues; and, accompanying these illustrious figures, the Sun—itself illustrious—is also present.); (right) “4”

References:

• Hollstein (Maarten de Vos) 1369
• New Hollstein (De Jode dynasty) 638
• The British Museum: Museum Number 1862,0712.324 — https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1862-0712-324
• The Rijksmuseum: Object Number RP-P-1981-67 — https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200175204. The Rijksmuseum describes this print: “In the sky hovers the planet god Sol, the sun. In the foreground are the personifications of Honos, Honor, depicted as a soldier and a virtuous housewife who is spinning. In the background, a knightly tournament. The print has a Latin caption and is part of a seven-part series about the power of the seven planets over the seven ages of man.”

Price & Shipping:

AU$336 (approximately US$233.56 / €208.31 / £176.39), inclusive of worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in owning this symbolism-rich engraving, it carries a remarkable historical resonance: it was published in 1581, the exact year the Low Countries signed the Act of Abjuration to declare independence from Spain. This masterpiece was born at the chaotic, brilliant turning point that forged the Dutch Republic and sparked the Golden Age of Northern printmaking. Please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will gladly send you a PayPal invoice for an easy and secure purchase.

This print has been sold

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.