Benigno Bossi’s etching, "Allegory of Art", c1770

Benigno Bossi (1727–1792)

"Allegory of Art", c1765–1776, plate 1 from the series, “Prove d’acquaforte” (Etching proofs), from the compendium of two suites of prints by Bossi, “Raccolta di teste, pensieri e prove d'acquaforte”, published in c1776 by Gioachino Bettalli and C Cont.a of Capello, in Parma.

Etching on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 27 x 18.7 cm; (plate) 16.3 x 12.5 cm; (image borderline) 15.5 x 11.2 cm.

Inscribed somewhat indecipherably on plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “Be…[nigno?] Bos …[si?] In. …[fe?].”

Numbered on plate within the image borderline: (upper right corner) “1”.

See a brief description of this print held by the Moravian Gallery (Brno, Czech Republic): https://www.webumenia.sk/dielo/CZE:MG.C_174. 

Condition: richly inked and near faultless impression on laid paper with generous margins. There are minor signs of handling (i.e. light finger marks on lower edge of the margin and there is slight wrinkling to the edges of the sheet, otherwise the print is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes folds, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this remarkable etching of two putti engaged in the art of creative invention—one of the children (in my interpretation of the image) is drawing the silhouette edge of the shadow cast by a classical sculpture as if referencing the famous myth of the “Maid of Corinth” who created the first drawing by tracing the shadow of her lover before he went to battle; the other child seems to be gazing into a bowl of paint as if looking into a crystal ball—for AU$220 (currently US$156.34/EUR138.48/GBP121.33 at the time of 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 exemplary visual representation of the art of creating art, 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