Josef Bergler, “Saturn”, 1820

Josef Bergler (aka Joseph Bergler) (1753–1829)—a neoclassical artist whose subjects were often drawn from Bohemian folklore. Bergler was the first director of the Prague Academy of Arts (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bergler).

“Saturn” (aka “Stařec čas”; “Chronos”), 1820 (date inscribed in plate “MDCCCXX”), proof before lettering with two lines of German verse (see Moravian Gallery: https://sbirky.moravska-galerie.cz/items/CZE:MG.MM_52) showing the allegorical figure of Time as a winged older man weighed down with a burden of the world and with his attributes of an hourglass and a scythe.

Etching on heavy wove paper, trimmed with a small margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 19.5 x 14.8 cm; (plate) 18.2 x 13.4 cm; (image borderline) 16.2 x 11.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (on sphere) “MDCCCXX”; (lower left corner) [artist’s monogram of a ligature “J” and “B”].

State i? (of ii?) I have not been able to find documentation of the various states of this print, but this impression is a state before the lettered state.

Not described by Heller, but a description is offered for a possibly related series: cat.no. 8, “The Elements” (Die Elemente), featuring landscapes with figurative staffage (Joseph Heller 1870, “Handbuch für kupferstichsammler”, Leipzig, T.O. Weigel, pp. 111–112 [https://archive.org/details/handbuchfrkupfe00andrgoog/page/110/mode/2up]).  

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses or significant stains.

I am selling this symbolically rich etching depicting the mythological figure of Saturn, as the embodiment of Father Time, laden with the weight of the world and with his wings unfurled as he contemplates his role as the great leveller, for AU$232 (approximately US$149.33, EUR 132.44, or GBP 110.98), including express mail shipping worldwide.  Import duties, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and beautiful etching of Saturn as an allegorical figure, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.