Pierre-François Basan, “The Storm”, c.1780, after Joseph Vernet

Pierre-François Basan (1723–1797)

“The Storm” (aka “L’Orage”; “Thunderstorm” [Hermitage title]; “L'Orage Impétueux” [LeBlanc title]; “Le Coup de Vent”), c.1780 (1773–1788), after Joseph Vernet’s (aka Claude-Joseph Vernet) (1714–1789) painting executed in c1773 and in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg (see https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/01.+paintings/37283), initially published in Paris by Basan et Poignant (Pierre-François Basan and his son Etienne-Léon Poignant [fl.1773–1791]). This impression was published in Paris by Pierre Jean (fl.1784–1820).

Etching on laid paper with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27 x 29.9 cm; (platemark) 24.4 x 27.5 cm; (image borderline) 20 x 25.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Jos. Vernet pinx.”; (centre) “L’ORAGE/ A Paris chez Jean rue Jean de Beauvais, no. 32.”

LeBlanc 487 (Charles Le Blanc 1854–88, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 1, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 191, cat. no. 487 [see https://archive.org/details/manueldelamateur01lebl/page/190/mode/2up]).

See also the description of this print offered by the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum: http://www.virtuelles-kupferstichkabinett.de/de/detail-view.

Condition: a well-printed impression with a small margin around the platemark (approx. 1 cm) and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

I am selling this finely executed engraving of an approaching rainstorm from the late 1700s—note how the artist has changed the tone of the circling birds from black when they are silhouetted against the lighter areas of the sky to sparkling white when the birds are in stark contrast with the dark storm clouds—for the total cost of AU$240 (currently US$163.09/EUR146.27/GBP123.30 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$240) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this curious scene of fisher folk that are seemingly unmoved and unhurried about a pending storm, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Franz Edmund Weirotter’s etching, “Near the Great Harbour in Marseille” , c1766

Franz Edmund Weirotter (aka Franz Edmund Weyrotter) (1733–1771)

“Near the Great Harbour in Marseille” (aka “Außer den großen Hafen bei Marseille”), c1766, plate 2 from the series of 12 plates, “Fourth Series of Different Regions” (aka “Vierte Folge von Verschiedenen Gegenden”). Note that the title plate to the series of which this print is a part is inscribed: “nach der Natur gezeichnet in Welschland” ([transl. “drawn from nature in Welschland”) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-1020-897). Based on this inscription, the site of this scene is likely to be in the region of French Switzerland (my apologies if my understanding of the region of “Welschland” is incorrect). Possibly published in Basan & Poignant's (fl.1773–88) 1775 edition, “Œuvre De F. E. Weïrotter, Peintre Allemand, Mort à Vienne en 1771. Contenant près de deux cent Paysages & Ruines, dessinés d'après nature, tant en France qu'en Italie, & gravés à l'eau-forte avec beaucoup de goût, par lui-même” (Work of FE Weirotter, German painter, Death in Vienna in 1771. Containing nearly two hundred Landscapes and Ruins, drawn from nature, both in France and Italy, and engraved with etching with great taste, by himself), Paris.

Etching on laid paper with small margins.

Size: (sheet) 17.5 x 24.6 cm; (plate) 14.8 x 21.6 cm; (image borderline) 13.5 x 20.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “2”; (centre) “F. E. Weirotter fecit”.

State ii (of ii) with the addition of the artist’s name and plate number below the image borderline and showing the sky area fully executed along with the addition of two three-master ships and a rowing boat in the middle distance (and other additions).

Winterberg 163.II (Thilo Winterberg 1998, “Franz Edmund Weirotter, der Landschaftsradierer”, Heidelberg, Galeria Palatina, pp. 350–51).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Sailing boat in a natural harbour; group of fishermen in the foreground; second plate of the series. 1766/7

Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-1020-898).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with small margins. The sheet is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this very fine impression in a near faultless condition executed by one of the major Austrian printmakers of 18^th century, for the total cost of AU$228 (currently US$170.89/EUR154.67/GBP130.28 at the time of this listing) 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 romantic vision of a natural landing nook for fishing boats that to my eyes seems redolent with the grandeur of Piranesi’s vision of ruins, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that I have recently listed a remarkable sheet of five of Weirotter's etchings showing a similar fascination with caves (presently still available): https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2022/03/franz-edmund-weirotters-etchings-suite.html. 

Franz Edmund Weirotter’s etchings, suite of five plates, c1766 (pub. 1775)

Franz Edmund Weirotter (aka Franz Edmund Weyrotter; Franz Edmund Weirauter; Franz Edmund Weyherolter) (1733–1771)

Five etchings (the lower print has the addition of aquatint) on laid paper, c1766 (published 1775), printed on the same sheet: (from upper to lower)

- “Men Arguing on Pieces of Ruins by the Pond” (aka “Diskutierende Männer auf Ruinenstücken am Tümpel”); lettered in plate “F. E. Weirotter”; state ii (of ii), Winterberg 186 II (p. 391)

- (left) “Busy Village Street” (aka “Belebte Dorfstraße”); lettered in plate “W”; state ii (of ii from the divided plate); Winterberg 187 II (p. 392)

- (right) “Two Men in Front of the Wooden Hut” (aka “Zwei Männer vor der Holzhütte”); lettered in plate “W”; state ii (of ii from the divided plate); Winterberg 188 II (p. 392)

- “Group of Figures Under a Barrel Vault” (aka “Figurengruppe unter einem Tonnengewölbe”); lettered in plate “F. E. Weirotter fecit” and numbered “4”; state ii (of ii); Winterberg 188 II (p. 378)

- “At the Entrance to the Grotto” (aka “Am Eingang zur Grotte”); lettered in plate “F. E. Weirotter fecit” and numbered “5”; state ii (of ii); Winterberg 178 II (p. 380)

Published in Paris in the Basan & Poignant's (fl.1773–88) 1775 edition, “Œuvre De F. E. Weïrotter, Peintre Allemand, Mort à Vienne en 1771. Contenant près de deux cent Paysages & Ruines, dessinés d'après nature, tant en France qu'en Italie, & gravés à l'eau-forte avec beaucoup de goût, par lui-même” (Work of FE Weirotter, German painter, Death in Vienna in 1771. Containing nearly two hundred Landscapes and Ruins, drawn from nature, both in France and Italy, and engraved with etching with great taste, by himself).

Size: (sheet) 39.3 x 25 cm

Reference: Thilo Winterberg 1998, “Franz Edmund Weirotter (1733–1771) Der Landschaftsradierer Das Graphische Werk”, Heidelberg, Galeria Palatina.

See also the description by the British Museum about the publication in which this sheet features: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3348106&partId=1&searchText=weirotter+Basan+&+Poignant&page=1.

Condition: strong and well-printed impressions in near pristine condition for the considerable age of the sheet with full margins as published.

I am selling this museum quality/near pristine sheet of 5 original prints by one of the most famous of the 18^th century landscape printmakers for AU$500 (currently US$371.77/EUR343.15/GBP281.89 at the time of posting 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.

If you are interested in purchasing this remarkable and very rare suite of etchings printed on the same sheet, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.