Guillaume Vallet’s engraving, “The Virgin looking up to the left, in bust length in an oval frame”, c1680, after Guido Reni

Guillaume Vallet (aka Guillelmus Valet) (c1634–1704)

“The Virgin looking up to the left, in bust length in an oval frame”, c1680, after Guido Reni (1575–1642).

Engraving on laid paper, trimmed close to the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 42.3 x 31.1 cm; (image borderline) 39.4 x 30.8 cm.

Lettered in plate within the image borderline along lower edge: (left) “Guid. Ren. Pinxit.” ; (right) “Guill. Vallet, Sc.C.P.R.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: “Fulcite me floribus, stipate me malis, quia amore langueo? Can Can. 2⁰”.

See the description of this print at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/667912.

Not described by LeBlanc although other engravings of the Virgin after Reni are catalogued (Charles Le Blanc 1854, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire par J.Ch. Brunet”, vol. 4, pp. 90–91 [see https://archive.org/details/manueldelamateur04lebl/page/90/mode/2up]).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate. Beyond several minor marks in the lower margin and a chip (loss) on the upper edge, the sheet is in very good condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing. The sheet is laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this masterfully executed engraving that not only captures the sheen of the Virgin’s face and the reflective gleam of her veil, but also convincingly presents in an almost tangible way the statuesque solidity of her body draped with a light and somewhat crumpled (silk?) veil, for AU$287 in total (currently US$212.92/EUR192.50/GBP161.61 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 visually arresting engraving showing the Virgin looking upwards to the left towards a spiritual light reflected in her eyes, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.