Benoît Louis Prévost, “Women with Children and Prophets on Clouds”, c.1780

Benoît Louis Prévost (c.1735–1804)

“Women with Children and Prophets on Clouds” (aka “Prophetes ou Apôtres peints par l'Espagnolet dans les Archivoltes de la Nef de l'Eglise Chartreux à Naples”), c.1780, after Francesco Solimena’s (1657–1747) designs for the women and children and after Jusepe de Ribera’s  (1591–1652) designs for the prophets, follow the intermediary drawn design by Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), published by Jacques-Gabriel Clousier (c.1750–1804) (aka l'Imprimerie de Clousier) in Paris in 1781 in Jean Claude Richard de Saint Non’s (1727–1791) “Voyage Pittoresque ou Description des Royaumes de Naples et de Sicilie”, volume 1 (of four), part 1, facing page 112 (see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125010908040/page/n203/mode/2up).

Etching on laid paper (with watermark) with a small margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 26.5 x 38.8 cm; (plate) 25.3 x 37.3 cm; (left image borderline) 20.6 x 15.8 (right image borderline) 20.6 x 16 cm.

Lettered in plate above the right image borderline: (right) “Naples.”

Lettered in plate below both image borderlines: (left) “Fragonard Del.”; (centre) “Prophetes ou Apôtres peints par l'Espagnolet dans les Archivoltes de la Nef de l'Eglise Chartreux à Naples./ Les Groupes de femmes et d'enfants qui sont au dessous sont de Solimenes et font partie des charmantes peintures de ce/ Maitre qui sont dans la Sacristie de l'Eglise de S^t. Paul.” ([transl.] “Prophets or Apostles painted by the Spaniard in the Archivolts of the Nave of the Carthusian Church in Naples./ The Groups of women and children below are by Solimenes and are part of the charming paintings of this/ Master which are in the Sacristy of the Church of St. Paul.”; (left) “B.L. Prevost Sculp./ A.P.D.R.”

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression. Beyond a dot stain in the right margin, the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this sensitively executed etching showing panels from Francesco Solimena’s frescoes executed between 1689 and 1690 in San Paolo Maggiore in Naples, featuring holy men (possibly two Prophets or Apostles) consulting scriptures in the upper corners and personifications of the eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount which I understand offer hope for eternity in heaven—for the total cost of AU$255 (currently US$166.76/EUR153.39/GBP131.08 at the time of posting this) 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 interesting etching that brings together the designs and skills of four significant artists (viz. Benoît Louis Prévost; Francesco Solimena; Jusepe de Ribera and Jean Honoré Fragonard) in a very beautiful diptych, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold