Daniel Vierge’s drypoint, “Gil Blas”

Daniel Vierge (aka Daniel Urrabieta Ortíz y Vierge) (1851–1904)

“Gil Blas” (aka “Gil Blas de Santillane”; “Le Sage”; “Friar’s Head”), 1900, an original drypoint printed by Louis Fort (fl. 1905) and published in Paris by Gauthier-Villars in Paris as an illustration to the art periodical, “La Revue de l'Art ancien et moderne”, vol. 8, 1900, p. 311. Archive.org offers an online view of this etching in its context in the publication and the index reference: https://archive.org/details/larevuedelartanc08pariuoft/page/310/mode/2up;  https://archive.org/details/larevuedelartanc08pariuoft/page/429/mode/1up. 

Drypoint with plate tone on cream wove paper backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 27.5 x 21 cm: (plate) 19.8 x 15.9 cm; (image borderline) 16.5 x 13.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s monogram: (middle left) “VIERGE”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “D. Vierge. Inv. et fec/ Revue de l'Art ancien et moderne.”; (centre) “Gil Blas”; (right) “Imp. L. Fort”.

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless impression in pristine condition laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this seemingly simple drypoint by one of the best-known and revered of the 19^th century illustrators—an artist famous for his skill in creating wood engravings that were crystal clear resulting from using virtually no cross-hatching that could “clog” printed impressions, but here, in this late drypoint, he demonstrates how to achieve dense blacks (see the mouth) and luminous whites (see the beard)—for AU$216 in total (currently US$144.37/EUR130.63/GBP114.99 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this study of a head that is alive with character and worthy of close examination—note, for example, how Vierge has created a very subtle lightening to the inner shadow of the friar’s hood to create its hollowed form—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.