Pierre Brebiette’s etching, “Amazon Brought before Pan by Satyrs”, c.1638

Pierre Brebiette (c.1598–1642)

“Amazon Brought before Pan by Satyrs” (aka “Amazone door Saters voor Pan gebracht” [Rijksmuseum title]), c.1638 (1617–1642), possibly from the series “Quatre Scènes disposées en forme de frise, animées par de Satyres” (Four Scenes arranged in the form of a frieze, animated by Satyrs), published by Augustin Quesnel I (fl.1639–1644) possibly in 1638 if my understanding that Quesnel published an edition of 75 of Brebiette’s etchings in 1638 is correct.

Note that the British Museum holds a copy of this print with the publisher’s details for Jean Leblond I (aka Jean Le Blond) (c.1590/94–1666), but the inventory information does not reproduce the print for comparison: “Frieze-like composition with satyr dragging an amazon before Pan, enthroned on the right; on the left, a young satyr playing harp” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-0614-493).

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed along/close to the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 6.5 x 16.9 cm; (image borderline) 5.7 x 16.3 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (within the image borderline at lower left-of-centre) “[P] Brebiette f. in”; (below the image borderline at lower left-of-centre) “Aug. Quesnel excud.”

IFF 115–128 (Bibliothèque nationale, Département des estampes 1939–, “Inventaire du fonds français: graveurs du XVIIe siècle”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, vol. 2 p. 123, cat. nos. 115–128).

Regarding the IFF catalogue of Brebriette’s prints, the Curator of the British Museum offers the following insight: “Brebiette etched a large number of frieze-like compositions; the IFF catalogue tries to group them together into 'sets' according to the subject or the dimensions (see Nos. 107 to 170), but this is an arbitrary cataloguing and it is unlikely that the plates were actually meant to be grouped together like this” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-0614-473).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression (most probably a lifetime impression based on the quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the plate), trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline. Beyond a faint mark (rust residue from a paper clip?) at centre along the upper edge, the sheet is in a very good/excellent condition for the considerable age of the print with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this exemplary Baroque etching, for the total cost of AU$276 (currently US$186.33/EUR170.29/GBP146.93 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 small, but marvellous and rare etching from the early 1600s, exemplifying an interest of that time in mythological subjects underpinned with eroticism, 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

Pierre Brebiette’s etching, “Frieze with a Bacchanal and the Sacrifice of a Satyr”, c1620

Pierre Brebiette (c1598–1642)

“Frieze with a Bacchanal and the Sacrifice of a Satyr”, c1620 (1617–1625), plate 3 (possibly from the series, “Opera Diversa”, with the title plate by Pierre Brebiette [see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-0614-397]),  published by François Langlois, il Ciartres (aka François Langlois; Ciartres) (1588–1647) with royal privilege (as inscribed in plate).

Etching on fine laid paper with small margins backed with a support sheet to provide wider margins.

Size: (support sheet) 26.9 x 38.3 cm; (sheet) 9.6 x 26.7 cm; (plate) 7.5 x 26.3 cm; (image borderline) 6.6 x 25.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower right) “roma/ P. Brebiette fecit”.

Lettered and numbered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “F. L. D. Ciartres excudit Cum Priuilegio.”; “3”.

IFF 163 (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, Paris). Note that the British Museum advises: “Brebiette etched a large number of frieze-like compositions; the IFF catalogue tries to group them together into 'sets' according to the subject or the dimensions (see Nos. 107 to 170), but this is an arbitrary cataloguing and it is unlikely that the plates were actually meant to be grouped together like this” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-0614-473).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Frieze-like composition with draped women dancing while a satyr lying on a pyre on the right is about to be sacrificed/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_R-8-59).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition for its considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

I am selling this exemplary Baroque etching showing a frieze of mythological figures engaged in a bacchanal celebration including a satyr being sacrificed on a pyre, for the total cost of AU$256 (currently US$198.96/EUR178.03/GBP151.53 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 small frieze from the early 1600s exemplifying an interest of that time in mythological subjects underpinned with eroticism, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Pierre Brebiette’s etching, “Procession of Sea-Gods”, c1620

Pierre Brebiette (c1598–1642)

“Procession of Sea-Gods”, c1620 (1617–1625), published by Jean Le Bond (aka Jean Leblond I) with royal privilege (as inscribed in plate).

Etching on fine laid paper, trimmed around the image borderline and writing edge and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 7.1 x 17.7 cm; (image borderline) 6.3 x 17.7 cm.

Inscribed in plate in very small script within the image borderline at right-of-centre in foreground waves: “P. Brebiette/ […]”—The BM proposes that the difficult to decipher words are “in roma” (see inv. no. 1854,0614.503).

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “le Blond excud”; (right) “Auec Priuilege du Roy.”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (not illust.):

“Frieze-like composition with, from left to right, a woman and a reclining river god, a woman riding a sea creature, a triton carrying a woman, and a triton and a woman riding dolphins” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-0614-503).

 IFF 115–128 (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, Paris).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression—possibly a lifetime impression based on the line quality showing no sign of wear to the printing plate—laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a closed tear in the lower edge and restorations to the left edge and upper right corner, otherwise the sheet is in a good condition for its considerable age with no significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this exemplary Baroque etching showing marine deities expressing their joy of life, for the total cost of AU$256 (currently US$305.97/EUR268.43/GBP239.46 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 small frieze from the early 1600s exemplifying an interest of that time in mythological subjects underpinned with eroticism, 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

Pierre Brebiette's freize-like etchings, c1638

Pierre Brebiette (1598?–1642)

(upper plate)

“Triumph celebration by marine deities” (descriptive title only), c1638

Etching on fine laid paper

Size: (sheet) 8 x 18.7 cm; (plate) 6.2 x 16.8 cm; (image borderline) 5.7 x 16 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left of centre on wave) “P. Brebiette”

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Aug. Quesnel excud”

(lower plate)

“Bacchanal of satyrs, putti and water nymphs” (descriptive title only), c1638

Etching on fine laid paper

Size: (sheet) 7.8 x 18.4 cm; (plate) 5.9 x 16.6 cm; (image borderline) 5.2 x 15.8 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left of centre) “P. Brebiette fecit”

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline (left) “Cum Priuilegio Regis. rue Betizi au Chesne d'Or”; (right) “August Quesnel excud. In viuco Betizizno.”

________

Both prints are from the series, “Twelve frieze-like designs showing bacchanals, sacrifices, and dances”, published by Augustin Quesnel (fl.1639–1644)  (as inscribed on the lower plate) in 1638 (attribution date is based on documentation that Quesnel published an edition of 75 of Brebiette’s etchings in 1638).

The Curator of the British Museum offers the following insight into the IFF’s (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, Paris) cataloguing of Brebiette’s frieze-like compositions:

“Brebiette etched a large number of frieze-like compositions; the IFF catalogue tries to group them together into 'sets' according to the subject or the dimensions (see Nos. 107 to 170), but this is an arbitrary cataloguing and it is unlikely that the plates were actually meant to be grouped together like this.” (BM No. 1854,0614.473)

Condition: both prints are richly inked and well-printed impressions (most probably lifetime impressions based on the crisp quality of the lines showing no sign of wear to the plates) in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains beyond a few spots or foxing) and are laid onto support sheets of archival (millennium quality) washi paper

I am selling this pair of etchings from the early 1600s, exemplifying the interest in the time with mythological subjects underpinned with eroticism, for the total cost of AU$422 for the pair (currently US$305.97/EUR268.43/GBP239.46 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 these small but visually engaging and very beautiful etchings, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This pair of prints has been sold