Alphonse Leroy’s aquatint, “L’Extrême-Onction”, c.1858, after Poussin

Alphonse Leroy (aka Alphonse Alexandre Leroy) (1820–1902)

“L’Extrême-Onction” (aka “The Extreme Unction”—a Roman Catholic ritual also called “The Last Rites” or “The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick” usually administered to the dying), c.1858 (1857–1859), from the series, “Collection de Dessins Originaux de Grands Maîtres Gravés en Fac-simile par Alphonse Leroy” (aka “Leroy's Facsimiles”), after a drawing (1644) executed in pen and brown wash by Nicolas Poussin (1594–1665) in the collection of the Musée du Louver (inv. no. 32429)—I understand that this Poussin’s drawing was a preparatory study for a painting “[transl.] intended for Paul Fréart de Chantelou for whom Poussin painted the second series of the Sacraments” (see Guermonprez & Lothe [2007], p. 129)—printed by Drouart (aka Imprimerie Drouart) (fl.1824–1861) and published in Paris by Alphonse Leroy (see detailed information about the publication of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1859-0212-20-39).

Aquatint with crayon-manner dot roulette, printed in sepia coloured ink on fine wove paper with the blindstamp of the Chaleographie du Louvre at lower centre and a collector’s ink stamp (not in Lugt) on the lower right corner of the image.

Size: (sheet) 48.4 x 62.8 cm; (plate) 29 x 38 cm; (image borderline) 21.9 x 33 cm

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “DESSINÉ PAR NICOLAS POUSSIN.”; (centre) “Imp. de Drouart, 11, Rue de Fouarre.”; (right) “GRAVÉ PAR ALPHONSE LEROY.”

State ii (of ii)

Guermonprez & Lothe 18 (Paul Guermonprez & José Lothe 2007, “Alphonse Leroy Graveur 1820–1902”, Paris, Editions Héritage Architectural, p. 129, cat. no. 18).

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless impression with generously wide margins in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing. There is an ink stamp by a previous collector (unidentified and not in Lugt) on the lower right corner of the image.

I am selling this immense and marvellously preserved aquatint replicating the subtleties of Poussin’s pen and wash ink drawing showing sixteen men and women surrounding a dying man to whom a priest is administering the sacrament of Extreme Unction—to my eyes this print is a tour de force accomplishment in the very demanding medium of aquatint—for the total cost of AU$305 (currently US$203.86/EUR184.45/GBP162.37 at the time of posting this print) 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 delicately executed and very luminous aquatint that is seldom seen on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.