Villeneuve & Adam, “Cours de la Massa”, 1828

Louis Jules Frédéric Villeneuve (1796–1842) and Victor Adam (1801–1866)

“Cours de la Massa” (The course of the Massa River)—the Massa is a glacial river fed by the Aletsch glacier, coursing through a deep gorge, the Massaschlucht, in Valais, Switzerland, before flowing into the Rhône, 1828

Technical Details & Condition:

Lithograph printed on pale grey chine collé on heavy wove paper, with wide margins. It was published by Engelmann & Cie as Plate 23 in a series of 31 lithographs illustrating the fourth volume of Adrien de Golbéry’s “Lettres sur la Suisse” (Letters on Switzerland) that focused on the Lake Geneva, Chamonix, and Valais regions. The lithograph was printed by Godefroy Engelmann I (1788–1839) in Paris, after a drawing by Louis Jules Frédéric Villeneuve executed from direct observation (en plein air) of the surrounding landscape and studies of the figures by Victor Adam (also known as Victor Jean Adam and Victor Vincent Adam) (1801–1866).

The impression is strong and evenly printed. Aside from a small dot in the margin at lower left and slight waviness to the margin at right, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 47.1 x 30.3 cm
• Chine collé: 30.4 x 21.7 cm
• Image borderline: 28.2 x 19.5 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left corner: “4^e: P.” (abbreviation signifying that this print is part [Partie] of the fourth volume of “Lettres sur la Suisse”)
• Upper right corner: “Pl. 23.”
• Lower left: “Villeneuve 1828. Fig par V. Adam.”  
• Lower centre: “COURS DE LA MASSA”
• Lower right: “Lith. de Engelmann, rue du Faub. Montmartre N: 6 à Paris.”

References:

• Jean-Victor de Constant Rebecque & Philippe-Amédée de Golbéry, Lettres sur la Suisse, Fourth Part (Lake Geneva, Chamonix, Valais), Paris: Godefroy Engelmann, 1827/1828, Plate 23
• Nicolas-Philibert Adelon (ed.), Bibliothèque helvétique: ou Recueil de pièces concernant la Suisse, Vol. 4, Paris, 1827
• French National Library (Bibliothèque nationale de France), Department of Prints and Photography (Département des Estampes et de la photographie), Ser. Lettres sur la Suisse
• Hamburger Kunsthalle: https://online-sammlung.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/de/objekt/kb-1863-85-524-IV-30
• Henri Beraldi, Les Graveurs du Dix-Neuvième Siècle: Saint-Marcel – Zwinger, Vol. XII, Paris: Librairie L. Conquet, 1892, pp. 242–243 (Discusses Villeneuve’s Alpine landscape series generally; this specific plate unlisted)

Price & Shipping:

AU$222 (approximately US$154.46 / €135.12 / £116.68), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

Capturing the thrilling peril of 19th-century Alpine adventure, this dramatic scene pits hunter-adventurers against a breathless abyss and a terrifyingly fragile footbridge. To acquire this exceptional lithograph, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

Adolphe Appian, “Avant la Pluie, Village de Villeneuve”, 1869

Adolphe Appian (also known as Jacques Barthélemy Appian) (1818–1898)

“Avant la Pluie, Village de Villeneuve” (Before the Rain, Village of Villeneuve), 1869

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on tissue-thin buff-coloured Japanese laid paper, with generously wide margins. It is an exceptionally rare proof-state impression before lettering for publication. The sheet bears a pencil inscription by an unknown hand along the lower edge (recto) providing details of the title and artist. 

The impression is strong and well-printed—a flawless proof! Aside from the pencil inscription, the sheet is in pristine condition, free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or handling marks..

Dimensions:

• Sheet (slightly uneven): 28.9 x 39.8 cm
• Platemark (soft): 16 x 22.8 cm
• Image borderline: 12.3 x 21.1 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left corner: “APPIA[N] 1889”

References:

• Curtis & Prouté 28 i (Atherton Cutiis & Paul Prouté, “Adolphe Appian son Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographié”, 1968, Paris, Paul Prouté, [n.p.] cat. no. 28 i)
• Jennings 25 (Herbert H Jennings, Adolphe Appian (essay) in “Print Collector’s Quarterly,” vol. 12, 1925, no. 1, p. 115, cat. no. 25)—see https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/print_collectors_quarterly1925/0134/scroll (scroll to find the page 115)

Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s insight:

In Hamerton’s 1876 edition of “Etching and Etchers”, he offers the following insights about Appian’s work:“…his [Appian’s] work is that each plate, however large or however small it may be, is conceived from the first as a whole, and the first conception is never departed from for the disproportionate realisation of some obtrusive detail.” Further: “…Appian sees always in masses, and gives quite as much detail as is consistent with the preservation of the mass” (pp. 202–03)

Price & Shipping:

AU$316 (approximately US$221.32 / €193.19 / £167.59), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this exceptionally rare and beautiful proof-state impression by an artist with a strong personal vision of his surroundings and a close connection with the Barbizon School, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

This print has been sold

Maison Bouasse-Lebel, “Sufferings of Jesus”, c. 1859

Widow Eulalie Bouasse-Lebel and Eldest Son (active partnership 1853–1864)

“Sufferings of Jesus”, printed in Paris, circa 1859—an antique French holy card, also widely known as a mechanical paper lace prayer card (canivet mécanique) featuring a printed prayer verso.

This holy card can be securely dated between 1853 and 1864 based on the documented publishing partnership of the widow Bouasse-Lebel and her eldest son at the historic printery address shown on the lower edge of the recto image: “Vve Bouasse Lebel et Fils aîné edit imp. 29 Rue S^t. Sulpice a Paris”.

Technical Details & Condition:

The card is composed of a central steel-engraved image featuring the head of Jesus Christ crowned with Thorns (recto) and a typography prayer (verso). The central text and image are integrated within an outer frame of exceptionally fine, embossed mechanical paper lace designed to perfectly replicate classical hand-cut lacework.

The prayer lettered in French on the reverse side translates as:
“He who applies himself to meditate often on the sufferings of Jesus Christ cannot refuse him his heart. He draws from this salutary exercise the horror of sin and true love.”

Aside from a small loss on the upper left corner and minor pale aging stains, the holy card is in very good condition for its age and the delicate nature of its fragile paper structure.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 9.7 x 6.3 cm
• Engraved image: 4.2 x 3.7 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Recto along lower edge: “Vve Bouasse Lebel et Fils aìné edit imp. 29 Rue St. Sulpice a Paris”
• Verso: “Celui qui s'ap / plique à méditer / souvent les souf- / frances de Jésus-Christ, / ne peut lui refuser son / cœur. Il puise dans / ce salutaire exercice / L’horreur du pé- / ché et le véri- / table amour. / Maison Vve Bouasse-Lebel / Paris 583” (Note: The number 583 corresponds to the specific model or catalogue series number assigned by the publisher).

References:

• University of Dayton: https://archivescatalog.udayton.edu/repositories/2/resources/330
• Wikidata (Bouasse-Lebel): https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q894945 
• École des Chartes (Dictionnaire des Imprimeurs): http://elec.enc.sorbonne.fr/imprimeurs/node/21913  

Price & Shipping:

AU$226 (approximately US$158.55 / €138.24 / £119.78), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this rare 19^th-century French mechanical lace holy card, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.