Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione’s etching, “Theseus Finds His Father’s Weapons”, c1645

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609–1664)

“Theseus Finds His Father’s Weapons” (TIB title), c1645, after (according to the Rijksmuseum but not noted by the BM) Nicloas Poussin (1594–1665), published by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi (1627–1691) in 1648.

Regarding the Rijksmuseum’s advice that this print is after Poussin, compare the composition of this print with the painting in the collection of the Musée Condé, Chantilly, “Theseus Finding His Father's Sword”, c1635, executed by Poussin in collaboration with Jean Lemaire: https://www.wga.hu/support/viewer_m/z.htm

Etching on laid paper trimmed along the plate-mark and backed on a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31 x 20.6 cm; (image borderline) 30.2 x 20.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left of centre) “GIO BENED. [to?] CASTILIONE In. P”; (right) “Jo Iac[…/] Rossi form[is] Romæ 1648 alla Pace”.

State ii (of iii) before the addition of lines to the background on the right of the pyramidal monument. (Note: compare the state ii impression held by the Rijksmuseum [RP-P-OB-12.167] with the state iii impression held by the British Museum [W,6.34].)

TIB 46 (21).24 (23) (Paolo Bellini 1982.”The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol. 46, New York, Abaris Books, p. 37, cat.nr. 24 [23]); Bartsch XXI.23.24; Bellini 13.II (Paolo Bellini 1982, “L'opera incisa di Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione”, Milan, Comune di Milano, p. 80, cat.nr. 13–2[3]).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “The Greek hero Theseus, seen from behind, lifts the stone under which the arms of his father, King Aegeus, are hidden. His mother Aethra watches, next to her a boy with a torch.” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.34964)

See also the description of this print at the British Museum:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1447420&partId=1&searchText=Castiglione+Theseus&page=1

Note that the British Museum holds a monotype by Castiglione of the composition of this print in reverse:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1443221&partId=1&searchText=Castiglione+Theseus&page=1

Condition: crisp but slightly grey impression in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, folds, holes, stains, foxing or significant signs of use), trimmed along the plate-mark and backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this large(ish) and exceptionally rare lifetime impression executed by the (arguable) first artist to make a monotype, for AU$730 (currently US$521.13/EUR458.60/GBP402.02 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 one of Castiglione’s major large prints that exemplifies perfectly his ability to render stone, windblown fabric and billowing smoke in a very convincing way using exceptionally sensitive strokes, 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