Adolphe Appian (born Jacques Barthélemy Appian) (1818–1898)

“Les Sources de l’Albarine (Ain)” or “The Springs of the Albarine (Ain)”, 1870

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with delicate plate tone printed in dark brown ink on fine laid paper with small margins. This is an impression from the fifth and final state (Curtis & Prouté v/v) following the reduction of the copper plate. While the plate width was reduced from its initial size of approximately 43.8 cm down to 36.9 cm, comparison with early states shows that the internal image and borderline detail remain untouched; the reduction physically removed the wide plate margins that previously held the publication lettering. This print is after Appian’s own oil painting, Source de l'Albarine en Automne, which was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1870.

The impression is richly inked and beautifully printed, maintaining crisp clarity in the dense foliage and reflection lines. Aside from two minuscule pinholes in the outer margin (likely inherent paper flaws from production) and a tiny brown spot in the lower margin, the sheet is in excellent condition—completely free of tears, folds, abrasions, significant stains, or handling marks.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 22.8 x 39.8 cm
• Platemark (soft): 20.5 x 36.9 cm
• Image borderline: 19.4 x 30 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left corner: “APPIA[N] / 1870”

References:

• Curtis & Prouté 29 v (Atherton Cutiis & Paul Prouté, “Adolphe Appian: son Œuvre Gravé et Lithographié”, Paris, Paul Prouté, 1968, cat. no. 29, state v)
• Jennings 26 (Herbert H. Jennings, "Adolphe Appian", The Print Collector’s Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 1, 1925, p. 115, cat. no. 26) — Digital copy viewable via the Heidelberg University Library (https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/print_collectors_quarterly1925/0134/scroll)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET): Accession No. 63.704.10—Note: The Met holds a third state copy (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/690949)
• British Museum: Museum No. 1873,0510.3454—Note: The British Museum holds a first state copy (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1873-0510-3454)

Price & Shipping:

AU$332 (approximately US$228.89/ €200.94 / £173.34), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this large and luminous impression—showcasing the mature printmaking skills of an artist central to the 19th-century etching revival and deeply aligned 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 

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

Adolphe Appian, “Le Port de Monaco”, 1873

Adolphe Appian (aka Jacques Barhelemy `Adolphe` Appian), (1818–1898)

“Le Port de Monaco”, 1873, a first state (lifetime) impression before lettering for publication in “L'Eau-Forte en 1874”.

Etching with plate tone on heavy wove paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 30 x 38cm; (plate) 16 x 23.9cm; (image borderline) 13.2 x 21.1cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left corner) “APPIAN 187[3]”.

State i (of ii) before lettering for publication.

Curtis & Prouté 36 i (Atherton Cutiis & Paul Prouté 1968, “Adolphe Appian son Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographié”, Paris, Paul Prouté, [n.p.] cat. no. 36 i); Jennings 32 (Herbert H Jennings 1925, Adolphe Appian (essay) in “Print Collector’s Quarterly,” vol. 12, no. 1, p. 115, cat. no. 32 [see https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/print_collectors_quarterly1925/0134/scroll [scroll to find the page 115]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “View of the port of Monaco: a flotilla of boats at left, stationed near the port, beyond at left, a hill with buildings at the top; first state. 1873” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1876-0708-14 [inv. 1876,0708.14]).

In Hamerton’s 1876 edition of “Etching and Etchers”, Hamerton offers the following interesting insights about Appian’s prints: “…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.” Going further, “…Appian sees always in masses, and gives quite as much detail as is consistent with the preservation of the mass” (pp. 202–03).

Condition: a near faultless, richly inked and well-printed impression with generously wide margins. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, stains or signs of handling

I am selling this rare first-state impression before lettering with title and publication details, for the total cost of AU $335 (currently US $207.80/ EUR 200.75/ GBP 166.03 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $335) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching executed by an artist with a strong personal vision of his surroundings and a close connection with the Barbizon School, 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