Johann Wilhelm Baur’s etching, “Perseus Kills Medusa”, 1641

Johann Wilhelm Baur (aka Johann Wilhelm Bauer; Joan Guiliam Bouwer) (1607–1642)

“Perseus Kills Medusa”, 1641, plate 46 from the series of 148 illustrations to Ovid’s (43–17/18 BC) “Metamorphoses”, initially published in 1641 before the lines of Latin text were added in “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen”. This impression is from the 1709 edition published by Pet. Detleffsen (and Jer. Wolff?) in Augsburg with the Latin text.

Note that Baur etched another plate with minor variations of the same composition published in 1639 in Vienna(?) as plate 47 to “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen” (see https://archive.org/details/desvortreffliche00baur/page/n89/mode/2up).

Note also that Abraham Aubry (fl. c1650) made etchings in reverse of Bauer’s designs published by Paulus Fürst (1608–1666) in Nuremberg in 1688.

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

Size: (sheet) 15.4 x 22.8 cm; (plate) 13.3 x 20.8 cm; (image borderline) 12.7 x 20.6 cm.

Numbered and lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Wil: Baur: In.” (left of centre) “Dum sopor altus habet metuendum crine Medusam,/ Callidus huic Perseus amputat ense caput.” ([trans] While deep slumber has the dreaded hair of Medusa, the cunning Perseus cuts off her head with his sword.); (right of centre) “Nox erat; aeq[ue] aliam magis interemisse Sororem/ Cum poterat, ratio est, prodita crine suo.” ([trans] It was night; It is reason that he killed another sister even more when he could, betrayed by his hair.); (right) “lib: 4.  46”.

State ii (of ii) with the addition of Latin text below the image borderline.

Bonnefoit R.165 (Régine Bonnefoit 1997, “Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607–1642). Ein Wegbereiter der barocken Kunst in Deutschland”, Tübingen, Ernst Wasmuth, cat. no. R 165); Hollstein 12.

See also Daniel Kinney’s marvellous documentation regarding Baurer’s series: https://ovid.lib.virginia.edu/tempestabaurnew.html.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print from its first state: “Plate 46: Perseus kills Medusa; at right, two female figures are asleep underneath a canopy in a cave, one of which is Medusa, with snakes on her head; to the left is Perseus, brandishing a sword, his right arm outstretched; in the centre, a platform with a pot from which pours forth smoke. 1641/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2AA-a-31-46).   

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

I am selling this superb etching from 1641, showing Perseus about to behead the Medusa, for AU$232 in total (currently/approximately US$156.88/EUR144.69/GBP121.97 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$232) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this dramatic scene from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, 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

Johann Wilhelm Baur’s etching, “The Goddess of Hunger”, 1641

Johann Wilhelm Baur (aka Johann Wilhelm Bauer; Joan Guiliam Bouwer) (1607–1642)

“The Goddess of Hunger” (aka “Die Botin der Ceres vor der Göttin des Hungers” [The messenger of Ceres before the goddess of hunger]), 1641, plate 80 from the series of 148 illustrations to Ovid’s (43–17/18 BC) “Metamorphoses”, initially published in 1641 before the lines of Latin descriptive text were added (see BM inv. no. 2AA+,a.31.27) in “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen”. This impression is from the 1709 edition published by Pet. Detleffsen (and Jer. Wolff?) in Augsburg with the Latin text.

Note that Bauer etched another plate with minor variations of the same composition published in 1639 in Vienna(?) as plate 80 to “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen” (see https://archive.org/details/desvortreffliche00baur/page/79/mode/2up). Note also that Abraham Aubry (fl. c1650) also made etchings in reverse of Bauer’s designs published by Paulus Fürst (1608–1666) in Nuremberg in 1688.

For those who are unfamiliar with the myth of Erysichtho, the story is that he cut down a sacred tree in the grove of Ceres and as punishment, Ceres—shown here riding a fiery beast—instructs the Goddess Hunger (aka Famine)—shown as emaciated woman in the lower right—to install herself in Erysichtho’s entrails—an event shown in the scene of a bedchamber on the left with Hunger about to leap into bed with Erysichtho—so that his insatiable appetite would drive him gnaw on his body until he was completely consumed. Dreadful!

Etching on fine laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 17 x 26.1 cm; (plate) 12.8 x 20.5 cm; (image borderline) 12.3 x 20.4 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Wil. Baür. fe:”; (centre in two columns of two lines) “Læsa Ceres volucri dimittit Oreada curru/ In Scythiam, ad mœsta sordida tecta famis.// Hanc iubet, vt rapidi fauces Erisichthonis intret,/ Illius & miseram cogat egere domum.”; (right) “lib:8- 80”.

State ii (of ii) with the addition of Latin text below the image borderline.

Bonnefoit R.199 (Régine Bonnefoit 1997, “Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607–1642). Ein Wegbereiter der barocken Kunst in Deutschland”, Tübingen, Ernst Wasmuth, p. 162, cat. no. R 199); Hollstein 12.ii.

The British Museum offers a description of this print from its first state: (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2AA-a-31-80).   

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with a substantial margin around the platemark. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this superb etching from 1641, showing Ceres riding a fiery monster and giving instructions to the Goddess Hunger, for AU$232 in total (currently US$175.18/EUR146.68/GBP125.33 at the time of posting this print) 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 dramatic scene from Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, 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

Johann Wilhelm Baur’s etching, “Cadmus Kills the Dragon”, 1641

Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607–1642)

“Cadmus Kills the Dragon”, 1641, plate 27 from the series of 148 illustrations to Ovid’s (43–17/18 BC) “Metamorphosis”, initially published in 1641 before the lines of Latin descriptive text were added (see BM inv. no. 2AA+,a.31.27) in “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen”. This impression is from the 1709 edition published by Pet. Detleffsen (and Jer. Wolff?) in Augsburg with the Latin text.

Note that Bauer etched another plate with minor variations of the same composition published in 1639 in Vienna(?) as plate 28 to “Des vortrefflichen Römischen poëtens Publii Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon, oder, funffzehen Bücher der Verwandlungen” (see https://archive.org/details/desvortreffliche00baur/page/n53/mode/2up). Note also that Abraham Aubry (fl. c1650) also made etchings in reverse of Bauer’s designs published by Paulus Fürst (1608–1666) in Nuremberg in 1688.

Etching on fine laid paper with watermark.

Size: (sheet) 14.3 x 21.4 cm; (plate) 13.2 x 20.8 cm; (image borderline) 12.7 x 20.7 cm.

Numbered on plate: (on tree at upper right) “27”.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Baür: fecitt”; (centre) “Cadmus vt ad fontem venit, comitesque necatos,/ Exitij autorem mox dat et ipse neci.// Rex ille Draco, Cadmus quem Marte peremit,/ Ipsius et regni sceptra superba tulit.”; (right) […]/ lib: 3”.

State ii (of ii) with the lines of descriptive text below the image borderline.

Bonnefoit R.146 (Régine Bonnefoit 1997, “Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607–1642). Ein Wegbereiter der barocken Kunst in Deutschland”, Tübingen); Hollstein 12.ii.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (note that the BM describes this plate as inscribed with the number “26”, but this is incorrect):

“Cadmus kills the dragon; Cadmus, the son of Agenor and sister of Europa, in a wooded landscape; Cadmus thrusts a spear into the mouth of the dragon; smoke emitted from the dragon's mouth, its tail wrapped around the trunk of a tall tree; to the left of Cadmus, a well, pots and bodies strewn on the ground” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2AA-a-31-27).   

Condition: a well-printed and slightly silvery impression with a small margin around the platemark in excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, stains, foxing or signs of use.

I am selling this superb illustration to Ovid’s “Metamorphosis”, showing Cadmus about to slay the dragon that has killed his companions, for AU$232 in total (currently US$178.16/EUR147.82/GBP129.71 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 this interesting depiction of dragon with a cocker spaniel’s face and ears, 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