Henri Le Roy’s engraving, “Achttien Vogels”, c1650

Henri Le Roy (1579–1652)

“Achttien Vogels” (Eighteen Birds), 1638–(before) 1669, plate 5 in the series, “Vogels” (Birds), published in Paris by Herman Weyen (fl.1638–1669).

See the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.413645.

Although I have been unable to establish whether the composition of this print was designed completely by Le Roy, or if it was an adaption of other artists’ designs, I can see clear visual references to similar friezes of birds by artists such as Nicolaas de Bruyn (aka Nicolaes de Bruyn; Nicolaas de Bruin) (1571–1656) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Z-1-96); Adriaen Collaert (c1560-1618) (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.97180); Wenceslaus Hollar (aka Václav Hollar; Wenzel Hollar) (1607–1677) who in turn copied Francis Barlow (1622–1704) (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.32885).

Note that I have listed a similar engraving of birds that I see as very beautiful by an unidentified artist from the circle of Nicolaas de Bruyn, “Five Birds Including Spoonbill”, which is still available: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2020/09/unidentified-printmaker-from-circle-of.html

Engraving with etching on laid paper trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 10.1 x 20 cm; (plate) 9.7 x 19.6 cm.

Inscribed on plate: (left) “Anas/ marinas”; (right) “Anas”; (along the lower edge at centre—partly erased) “Herman W[eyen exc.] H[enri le Roy] fecit.” (see Rijksmuseum inv. no. RP-P-1964-2422)

Orn Cat II 12183 (Peter Fuhring 2004, “Ornament Prints in the Rijksmuseum II: The Seventeenth Century”, vol. 3, Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum Sound and Vision, p. 274, cat. no. 12183).

Condition: a well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is abrasion of the publication details on the lower edge at centre otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition with no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this engraved frieze of eighteen different birds for AU$257 (currently US$198.97/EUR164.19/GBP141.38 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 small and beautiful engraving from the mid-1600s, 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 

François Jollain's engraving, “Partridge and Eagle”, c.1680

François Jollain the elder (c.1641–1704).

“Partridge and Eagle” (aka “Perdrix et Aigle”), c.1680, plate 11 from the series “Diversae Avium Specie Studiosissime ad Vitam Delineatae” (Diverse bird species accurately drawn from life), published by Gérard (?) Jollain (fl.1660–1683) in Paris in c.1680.

Todocoleccion offers a description of the prints in the series and showcases each plate in its context in the publication (including this plate) by scrolling to the bottom of their web page:

 https://www.todocoleccion.net/arte-grabados/diversae-avium-specie-studiosissime-ad-vitam-delineatae-ed-jollain-paris-circa-1680~x90037432 .

Note: Edward Cooper (fl.1682–1725) published a similar set of prints under the same title after the designs of Francis Barlow (c.1626–1704), but this print is not a part of that series as showcased by The Tate Gallery:

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/barlow-various-birds-and-beasts-drawn-from-the-life-66048.

Adriaen Collaert (c.1560–1618) engraved a very similar plate but with a landscape background and under the series title “Avium Vivæ Icones”, published by Theodoor Galle (1571–1633); see

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-two-birds-in-a-landscape-adriaen-collaert-1598-1618-104907166.html.

Engraving with platetone on watermarked laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17.4 x 24.3 cm; (plate) 13.5 x 18.5 cm; (image borderline) 12.4 x 18 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (upper left) “[La] perderix se nourit d’oeufs de freinis, …/ …/ …/ …au mal des yeux./ Perdix/ Perdris”; (upper right) “Aquila/ L’Aygle se nourit de gibier, …/ …/ …/ …/ …/ …/ est de couleur faulle.”

Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (lower right corner) “11.”

Condition: early impression showing scratched guidelines for the lettering with full margins as published (based on the light age toning at the sheet edges). The initial letters on the upper left were smudged during printing and there are finely punched binding holes on the left side of the sheet. The sheet is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this remarkable engraving, showing not only the two exquisitely portrayed birds, but, interestingly, also the finely scored lettering guidelines (before they wore away during the printing process), unintentional lines created by the polishing of the plate, a printer’s smudge where the plate was handled at the upper left and a deposit of link on the plate edge resulting from poor wiping of the plate, for a total cost of AU$210 (currently US$159.05/EUR142.94/GBP122.30 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this lifetime impression of a rare engraving from the late 1600s, 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