Circle of Lodovico Carracci, “Madonna and Child with John the Baptist”, c.1610, after Lodovico Carracci

Unidentified artist from the circle of Lodovico Carracci (aka Ludovico Carracci) (1555–1619)

“Madonna and Child with John the Baptist”, c.1610, after the engraving and drypoint (c.1602–1604) in the reverse direction by Lodovico Carracci (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0808-612 [BM inv. no. 1874,0808.612]).

Engraving on tan laid paper, trimmed around the image borderline, with the upper-left corner replenished, and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.8 x 13.3cm

Inscribed in plate: (lower left corner) “Lo[d].^co C. 1.”

Inscribed in crayon (?): (lower right corner) “I S”—possibly an erroneous reference to Pietro Stefanoni (c.1589–c.1614) who made a reverse copy of Lodovico Carracci’s print (TIB 3905.003 C1) and was also the publisher of the original print by Lodovico Carracci (TIB 3905.003)

TIB 3905.OO3 C3 (Babette Bohn 1996, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol. 39 [Commentary Part 2], New York, Abaris Books, p. 132, cat. no. [3905].003 C3].041)

Condition: a well-printed impression, trimmed around the image borderline with the upper-left corner replenished, and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this early engraving from the 1600s—possibly a lifetime impression based on the quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate—after Lodovico Carracci, for the total cost of AU$331 (approximately US$212.56, EUR 183.23 or GBP 158.55). This price includes worldwide express postage and handling. Please note that any applicable import duties or taxes imposed by the destination country are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this curiously interesting engraving that is both sensitively engraved but, arguably, somewhat crude in its translation of Carracci’s original composition, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Francesco Rosaspina, “The Preaching of St. John the Baptist”, c1830, after Lodovico Carracci

Francesco Rosaspina (1762–1841)

“The Preaching of St. John the Baptist” (aka “La Predicazione di S. Gio[v]anni Battista”; “John the Baptist Preaching to a Crowd at the River Jordan”), c.1830, after the altarpiece painting in the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna, “Sermon of the Baptist” (aka “Predica del Battista”), 1592, (see https://www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/it/content_page/item/96-predica-del-battista), by Lodovico Carracci (aka Ludovico Carracci) (1555–1619), from the series published in Bologna by the Francesco Rosaspina in 1830, “La Pinacoteca della Pontificia Accademia di Belle Arti, Bologna” (The Art Gallery of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts, Bologna).

The Wellcome Collection offers an online view of the prints in the series, “La Pinacoteca della Pontificia Accademia di Belle Arti, Bologna”, including a description of this print (curiously described as a drawing): https://wellcomecollection.org/search/works?partOf.title=La+Pinacoteca+della+Pontificia+Accademia+delle+Belle+Arti+in+Bologna; https://wellcomecollection.org/works/fshbzx4d).

Interestingly, the British Museum holds an etching by an unidentified printmaker (late 18^th century) showing Lodovico Carracci’s composition in the reverse direction: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_U-1-23.

Etching with engraving on wove paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 48.8 x 31.5 cm; (plate) 34.5 x 22.7 cm; (image borderline) 28.4 x 16.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Lod Carracci dip”; (centre) “LA PREDICAZIONE DI S. GIOANNI BATTISTA”; (right) F. Rosaspina dis. e inc.”

Condition: a well-printed faultless impression with generously wide margins in an excellent (near pristine) condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this large and exquisitely executed etching (with engraving) translating in line and dot the colours and tones of Carracci’s exemplary Baroque painting— for AU$289 in total (currently/approximately US$193.49/ EUR177.97/ GBP152.29 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$289) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this seldom seen print on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Francesco Brizio's engraving, “St Mary Magdalene in Penitence”, c.1600

Francesco Brizio (aka Francesco Briccio) (1574–1623)

“St Mary Magdalene in Penitence” (aka “Mary Magdalen”; “Maria Magdalena”), c.1600, possibly after Lodovico Carracci (1555–1619) (according to Carlo Cesare Malvasia [1961] in “Le Pitture di Bologna”, p. 74) or more likely Titian (1489/90–1576) because of the close view of Mary seen in supplication (according to DeGrazia Bohlin [1979] in her catalogue raisonné for the Carracci family, p. 396), published by Nicolas van Aelst (1550s–1613).

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

Size: (sheet) 23.1 x 18.2 cm; (inner image borderline) 21.2 x 18 cm.

Lettered below the image borderline: “SPECVLVM PENITENTIÆ”.

State i (of ii) lifetime impression before the addition of the publisher’s address.

TIB 4003.004 S1 (Veronika Birke 1987, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries”, vol. 40 [Commentary Part 1], New York, Abaris Books, p. 185, cat.no. .004 S1); DeGrazia Bohlin R29 (Diane DeGrazia Bohlin 1979, “Prints and Related Drawings by the Carracci Family: A Catalogue Raisonné”, Washington, National Gallery of Art, p. 396, cat.no. R 29); Bartsch XVIII.80.83 (under Agostino Carracci) (Adam Bartsch 1803, “Le Peintre Graveur”, vol. 18, Vienna, p. 80, cat.no. 83).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print:

(transl.) “Maria Magdalena in a landscape. In the background on the right is an ointment jar”

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.90859)

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum:

https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1543411&partId=1&searchText=Francesco+Brizio+&page=1

Regarding the pose of a figure portrayed resting their head on their hand, by tradition this pose signifies a state of melancholy and because the figure shown here is the biblical figure, Mary Magdalen—note her symbolic attribute: the jar of ointment used to anoint the crucified Christ—her pose is likely to signify repentant sorrow for her former life as a promiscuous woman.

Condition: Evenly and well-printed lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed with a narrow margin around the borderline and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in excellent condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, folds, holes, losses, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this exceptionally rare lifetime impression (before the addition of the publisher’s name) in museum quality condition for AU$432 in total (currently US$289.76/EUR265.33/GBP224.22 at the time of posting 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 beautifully executed engraving exemplifying the Baroque period style of heightened drama and exuberant rhythms, 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