Jan Luyken, “The Second Plague of Egypt: Frogs Over the Land”, 1708

Jan Luyken (also known as Jan Luijken) (1649–1712)
“The Second Plague of Egypt: Frogs Over the Land” (Tweede Plaag van Egipte. De Vorschen komen op over Egÿptenland), 1708

The Rijksmuseum describes this print (in translation): “View of a city on a river teeming with frogs. The frogs emerge from the water onto the land. On the bank, people try to shake the frogs off or flee. The print is a depiction of the second plague that God brought upon Egypt” (Rijksmuseum Object Record).

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on laid paper (“Strasburg Bend & Lily” watermark) with full margins as published in 1729 in Amsterdam by Johannes Covens I and Cornelis Mortier (active 1721–1778). It is plate 12 (of 62) in “Icones Biblicae Veteris et N. Testamenti” (Figures of the Old and New Testament).

This is State ii (of ii), showing the change of publisher from Pieter Mortier I to his son, Cornelis Mortier, and Cornelis’ brother-in-law, Johannes Covens. The privilege note has also been erased in this state.

The impression is richly inked, strong, and near faultless—an excellent early impression, evidenced by the crisp lines with no signs of wear to the printing plate. The original publication centre-fold has been professionally flattened. The sheet is in pristine condition, free of tears, holes, stains, or handling marks.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 33.9 x 55 cm
• Plate mark: 33.7 x 43.6 cm
• Image borderline: 31.7 x 42.3 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image):

• Left: “Edit. à J. Covens et C. Mortier.”
• Left of centre: “Tweede Plaag van Egipte. De Vorschen komen op over Egÿptenland. Exod: VIII”
• Right of centre: “Seconde Playe d’Egypt. Les Grenoüilles répendues dans tout le Pays. Exode VIII.”
• Right: Johannes Luyken Inv: et fecit. / 12.”

References:

•  Van Eeghen 3701 (Pieter van Eeghen & Johan Philip van der Kellen, Het werk van Jan en Casper Luyken, 1905, Amsterdam, Frederik Muller & Co., vol. 2, p. 660, cat. no. 3701) —https://archive.org/details/hetwerkvanjanen01kellgoog/page/n279/mode/2up
• British Museum: Museum Number 1892,0411.63.13—https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1892-0411-63-13   
• Rijksmuseum: Object Number RP-P-OB-67.873—https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200396168

Price & Shipping:

AU$288 (approximately US$201.16 / €175.75/ £149.53), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you're interested in acquiring this extraordinarily detailed etching—featuring Moses in the lower-left foreground guiding his brother, Aaron, who follows God’s word by raising his rod over the waters to summon a plague of frogs upon the inhabitants of Egypt—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold

Charles Jacque, “L’été”, 1864

Charles Jacque (also known as Charles Émile Jacque) (1813–1894)

“L’été” (Summer), 1864

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with dot-roulette on fine buff-coloured laid paper with wide margins. This is a rare first state impression before lettering for publication. It is the ninth plate in a series of twenty-four prints executed in 1864 and distributed between 1864–1865 (Collection Publiée en 1864, Guiffrey 177–201).

In the later published state of this etching, the inscribed details show Sarazin (also known as Sarasin, active circa 1846–1880) as the printer.

Note: The British Museum holds an impression of the later, lettered state under: Museum Number 1865,0429.156 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0429-156).

The impression is richly inked and well-printed—a near-faultless artist’s proof. Aside from a small replenished hole below the image at right (visible only when held to a light source), the sheet remains in excellent, museum-quality condition. It is entirely free of tears, folds, stains, or handling marks.

J.-J. Guiffrey (1866) describes this specific composition (translated from the French): “A country girl, dressed in a gown that leaves her shoulder and leg bare, sits on a mound under a tree near a rough fence. She is feeding a small bird. On the other side of the fence, a shepherd in a wide-brimmed hat and coat leans on his elbow, talking to the girl. His flock spreads out on a rise divided in two by a wooden fence, at the top of which the silhouette of a dog stands out against the sky” (p. 92).

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 39.4 x 28 cm
• Platemark: 21 x 13.2 cm
• Image borderline: 13 x 9.8 cm

References:

• Guiffrey 185 (J.-J. Guiffrey, “L’Oeuvre de Ch. Jacque: Catalogue de ses Eaux-Fortes et Pointes Sèches,” 1866, Paris, Lemaire, p. 92, cat. no. 185 [Premier état])
• Beraldi 9 (Henri Beraldi, “Les Graveurs du Dix-Neuvième Siècle: GUÉRIN–LACOSTE,” vol. VIII, 1889, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 188, cat. no. 9 [referencing Guiffrey 185])
• IFF 288 (Jean Adhémar & Jacques Lethève, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: HUMBLOT–JYG,” vol. 11, 1960, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, p. 115, cat. no. 288)— https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489301d/f127.item

Price & Shipping:

AU$274 (approximately US$191.38 / €167.21 / £142.26), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in acquiring this sublimely beautiful and extraordinarily rare etching in its initial proof state before lettering and later drypoint/engraving rework, please contact me directly at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will gladly provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold 

Léon Lhermitte, “Portrait of Charles Daubigny”, 1875

Léon Lhermitte (also known as Léon Augustin Lhermitte) (1844-1925)

“Portrait of Charles Daubigny”, 1875

Technical Details & Condition:

Drypoint on buff-colored laid paper with “Arches” watermark. Printed in Paris by Abraham Beillet (active 1850–1876). This portrait depicts the renowned Barbizon artist Charles Daubigny (also known as Charles François Daubigny) (1817–1878). It served as the frontispiece to Frédéric Henriet’s catalogue raisonné of Daubigny’s graphic work, “Daubigny et son Œuvre Gravé”, published in Paris. See: https://archive.org/details/cdaubignyetsonuv00henr/page/n13/mode/2up

Note: Although Henriet’s later 1905 catalogue retrospectively records the publication date as 1874, bibliographic records confirm the official release as 1875.

Henriet (1905) offers the following insight about this portrait (translated): 

“Léon Lhermitte drew and engraved this copperplate after the charcoal portrait he made in the studio of the famous landscape painter (rue Fontaine-Saint-Georges), who kindly posed for him. The artist is depicted at his easel, wearing the beret he wore in his studio.” (p. 71; see: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96176869/f123)

The impression is strong, crisp, and evenly printed with wide margins. Aside from faint discoloration in the upper right of the image, the sheet remains in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains and handling marks.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 27.4 x 19.8 cm
• Platemark: 16.8 x 11 cm
• Image borderline: 12.1 x 10 cm

In-Plate Lettering

• Upper left: “L. Lhermitte”

(Below the image):

• Left of centre: “L. Lhermitte del. et sc.”
• Centre: “C. DAUBIGNY”
• Right: “Imp. Beillet Paris”

References:

• Henriet 18 (Frédéric Henriet, “Les Eaux-Fortes de Léon Lhermitte”, 1905, Paris, A. Lemerre, p. 71, cat. no. 18. Although Henriet lists the source publication date as 1874, the actual imprint is from 1875.)
• Beraldi 14 (Henri Beraldi, “Les Graveurs Du Xixe Siecle:  LAEMLEIN - MÉCOU”, Vol. IX, 1889, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 179, cat. no. 14)
• MAH Musée d'art et d'histoire, Ville de Genève: Inventory Number E 2017-1714 (https://www.mahmah.ch/collection/oeuvres/portrait-de-daubigny/e-2017-1714)

Price & Shipping:

AU$245 (approx. US$171.09 / €149.53 / £127.06), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if applicable) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this historically significant portrait of one of the leading artists of the Barbizon School—surprisingly, this portrait does not appear to be in the online collection of the British Museum—please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless, protected transaction.

This print has been sold