Benigno Bossi, “Head of a Young Woman Facing Left with Her hand to Chin”, circa 1760

Benigno Bossi (1727–1792)

“Head of a Young Woman Facing Right with Her Hand to Her Chin” (descriptive title only), circa 1760

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on fine laid paper with partial watermark and generously wide margins.

This is plate 14 from the series of 40 plates (including the frontispiece/title page), “Raccolta di teste inventate, disegnate e incise da B. Bossi” (Collection of heads created, drawn, and engraved by Benigno Bossi), published by Gioachino Bettalli and C Cont.a of Capello (as inscribed on the title plate).

The impression is strong, crisp and faultless. Aside from faint age toning at the outer edges, the sheet is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.7 x 22.5 cm
• Platemark: 8.7 x 7.2 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Upper left: “Bossi. f.”
• Upper right: “14”

References:

• LeBlanc 64-103 (Charles Le Blanc, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations,” vol. 1, 1854, Paris, P. Jannet, p. 183, cat. nos. 64–103 [From the suite of 40 heads and sketches])
• Institutional Reference: For an authoritative description of this print series and verification of the 40-plate suite, see the regional collection archives of Lombardy (Lombardia Beni Culturali), under entry record C0060-00400 — https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/stampe/schede/C0060-00400/

Price & Shipping:

AU$274 (approximately US$190.64 / €169.34 / £143.98), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this exceptionally beautiful and rare etching in superb (museum quality) condition, please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a smooth, protected transaction.

Benigno Bossi, “Allegory of Painting Next to the Marble Bust of Count Giulio Ascanio Scutellari”, 1772

Benigno Bossi (1727–1792)

“Allegory of Painting Next to the Marble Bust of Count Giulio Ascanio Scutellari” (Allegoria della Pittura accanto al busto marmoreo del conte Giulio Ascanio Scutellari), 1772, a lifetime impression published in Parma by Giambattista Bodoni (1740–1813) (see http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12835/72334).

Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate specific biographical information about Count Giulio Ascanio Scutellari, the individual referenced in the title and whose bust is beside the allegorical figure of Painting. However, if the Count is also known as Guido Ascanio Scutellari Ajani (1711–1800), he would have been an Italian poet. While this remains speculative, it is plausible given the presence of the putti reading beneath the bust, which aligns with the theme of poetry and learning.

Etching with engraving on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 14 x 7.6cm; (image borderline) 13.4 x 7.1cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Bossi In. Sculp.”

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with a narrow margin around the image borderline and laid upon a sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond a small stain on the head of the personification of painting, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, or significant stains.

I am selling this remarkably strong lifetime impression of a very beautiful etching showing the personification of painting holding a palette and brushes beside a sculpted bust—possibly portraying the Italian poet Guido Ascanio Scutellari Ajani—with putti avidly exploring books, for the total cost of AU$302 (approximately US$195.99, EUR 169.31 or GBP 147.42), including express mail shipping worldwide. Import duties, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this jewel-like etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Benigno Bossi, “Head of a Man Wearing a Hat, Facing Right”, 1755

Benigno Bossi (1727–1792)

“Head of a Man Wearing a Hat, Facing Right” (Harvard title) (aka “Testa d'Uomo con Cappello”), 1755 (as dated in plate), plate 11 from the series of forty-three numbered plates (including the title plate), “Raccolta di Teste” (Collection of Heads). Following the inscription, I understand that this etching was executed in Dresden (Dresdae) where the artist was introduced to etching.

Size: (sheet) 12.9 x 9 cm; (plate) 9.6 x 7.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper right) “11”; (lower right) “Bossi f Dresdae/ 1755.”

The Harvard Art Museums offer a description of this print from an earlier state: https://hvrd.art/o/275536.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins laid upon a sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses or stains.

I am selling this sensitively executed etching of a man’s head, for AU$249 (equivalent to approximately US$158.60, EUR 151.58, or GBP 125.63 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$249).

If you are interested in purchasing this insightful study of a man’s head, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Benigno Bossi’s etchings, “Plate 6” & “Plate 9”, 1755

Benigno Bossi (1727–1792)

(left) “Plates 6” (aka “Head of a Boy, Profile Left”), 1755 (as dated in plate)

(right) “Plate 9” (aka “Head of a Boy Holding a Book”, c1755

Two etchings of the head of a youth facing left on laid paper from the series of forty-three numbered plates (including the title plate), “Raccolta di Teste” (Collection of Heads).

Size: (each sheet) 27 x 18.6 cm; (each plate) 9.4/9.6 x 7/7.5 cm.

“Plate 6” inscribed faintly in plate: (upper left) “Benigno Bossi f-.1755.”; (upper right) “6”.

“Plate 9” inscribed faintly in plate: (upper left) “Bossi In. f.”; (upper right) “9”.

The Harvard Art Museums offer a description of “Plate 6” in an earlier state before the plate was reduced in size and reworked: https://hvrd.art/o/275984.

The Rijksmuseum and The Harvard Art Museums offer descriptions of “Plate 9” in an earlier state when it was inscribed, “nō V”: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.86262 & https://hvrd.art/o/275973.  

Interestingly, Benjamin Green (1739–1798)—purported to have been the first printmaker to make a soft-ground etching—copied Bossi’s “Plate 6” in the reverse direction as a soft-ground etching (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1861-1012-2390).

Condition: strong and well-printed impressions with generous margins and in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this pair of sensitive studies of a boy facing left, for the total cost of AU$428 for the pair (currently US$309.97/EU286.93/GBP241.51 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 pair of small and very beautiful etchings, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that I have three other etchings by Benigno Bossi that are still available: https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2021/01/benigno-bossis-etchings-portrait-of-man.html & https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2019/12/benigno-bossis-etching-allegory-of-time.html.