Gallery of prints for sale

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Johannes Visscher's etching, “Sleeping Shepherd and Shepherdess by a Tree”, c.1675, after Nicolaes Berchem


Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1636–after1692)

“Sleeping Shepherd and Shepherdess by a Tree” (aka “Sleeping Herd and Woman at the Foot of a Tree” [Hollstein’s title]) c.1675 (1643–1706), after the design by the intermediary draughtsman, Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz. Berrighem) (1621/22–1683), published by Frederik de Wit (1629/30 - 1706) in Amsterdam. Note that there is a significant loss to the right side of the image.

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed significantly within the image borderline on the right and with a narrow border around the borderline on the remaining sides with loss of the writing edge, backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 35 x 35.5 cm.

State ii? (of iv) I have attributed this impression to state ii as there is the smallest remnants of the upper ascenders of text on the lower left signifying this state. The strength of the line also suggests an early impression. I am unable to clarify if this impression is from a later state as the address of Visscher (state iii) or the erasure of this address (state iv) has been trimmed off.

Hollstein Dutch 46–2(4) (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Johannes (de) Visscher to Robert van Voerst”, vol. 41 [XLI), Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 38, cat. no. 46); Wessely 78; Nagler 37; Le Blanc 72; De Winter 60.

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:
(transl.) “While two cows, a sheep and a donkey drink from shallow water, a shepherd and a shepherdess are napping under a tree”

Condition: richly inked and well-printed strong impression trimmed well within the right margin (i.e. there is a significant loss to this side) and with loss of the writing line. Beyond a faint stain in the uppermost cloud, the sheet is in very good condition and is laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this strong etching (with engraving) with a large loss to the right side of the image for AU$233 in total (currently US$153.56/EUR141.16/GBP118.15 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 17th century rural scene featuring a shepherd dozing beside his lunch basket—a sure sign of postprandial somnolence—and his lady companion who reads while their flock water themselves at a ford, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.










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