Amelie de Suffren’s aquatint, “The Devil's Bridge, Cardigan”, 1803

Amelie de Suffren (aka Amelie de Choiseul Suffren) (1762–1817)

“The Devil's Bridge, Cardigan”, 1803, aquatint after a painting by the artist, published in London in 1803 by the artist in partnership with the print dealer, Paul Colnaghi (1751–1833), who had moved his firm to the address inscribed on the plate in 1799.

Note that this somewhat overlooked female painter and printmaker wrote and published, “Voyage pittoresque dans le midi et le nord du pays de Galles, ou suite de 48 vues déssinées sur les lieux” (1802)—arguably the first illustrated account of travel in Wales (see https://exploringtheuk.com/visiting-the-united-kingdom/wales/). Although this may be true in the fine details, I am mindful that (Reverend) William Gilpin (1724–1804) published what may be even earlier illustrated accounts about travelling in Wales, especially with regard to his notions of the picturesque to be found in South Wales; see “Three essays: On the picturesque beauty, On picturesque journeys and On the art of sketching the landscape” (1799); “Observations on the River Wye” (1782); and, Rita Singers’ (2019) “Through Wales in the Footsteps of William Gilpin: Illustrated Travel Accounts by Early French Tourists, 1768–1810)” (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10509585.2019.1583563).

Aquatint printed in umber ink on wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 35.5 x 54.2 cm; (plate) 30.2 x 40.3 cm; (image borderline) 25.3 x 38.3 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Pub^d. October 1803 by the Author et by Colnaghi N^o. 23 Cockspur S^tr. London.”; (centre) “THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE, CARDIGAN.”; (right) “A. de Suffren Pinx et Sculp.”

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with wide margins. There are minor handling marks otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this rare and large aquatint executed by a very interesting (but sadly overlooked) female printmaker, painter and writer—arguably the first to illustrate and write about travelling through Wales—for AU$247 in total (currently US$165.09/EUR149.38/GBP131.49 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 amazing aquatint of great complexity, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.