Alphonse Descaves’ etching, “Edmond and Jules de Goncourt”, c1855, after Félix Nadar

Alphonse Descaves (aka Alphonse-Louis Descaves) (1830–1890)

“Edmond and Jules de Goncourt”, c1855, after a photograph (c1855) by Félix Nadar (aka Gaspard Félix Tournachon) (1820–1910).

The famous French brothers, Edmond (1822–1896) and Jules de Goncourt (1830–1870), were inseparable and even in death I understand that they were buried in the same grave. In fact, they were so close that the following extract from their journal (“Le Journal des Goncourt” [1851], 20 December 1866) says it all: [transl.) “We are now like women who live together, whose health mingles, whose periods come at the same time: our migraines come to us on the same day” (vol. 2, p. 308). Perhaps not surprising, they also worked collaboratively as writers and both were artists whose prints I have showcased earlier; see:

- Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Portrait de Chardin”, 1876, after Maurice Quentin de La Tour (https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2021/07/proof-and-lettered-states-of-jules-de.html);

- Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Profil d'homme”, c1861, after Paul Gavarni (https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2021/03/jules-de-goncourts-etching-profil.html);

-  Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Le Goblet D'Argent (after Chardin)”, 1862 (https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2020/09/jules-de-goncourts-etching-le-goblet.html).

Etching (with dot roulette) on cream wove (Japon) paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 30.9 x 23.8 cm; (plate) 18.6 x 12 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (on cushion) “Alph^se Descaves”.

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this amazingly fine etching of the remarkable French brothers who wrote collaboratively about everyday life in the art world of Paris during the late 1800s, for the total cost of AU$224 (currently US$150.57/EUR142.15/GBP125.08 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 rare and very beautiful etching, 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

Proof and lettered states of Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Portrait de Chardin”, 1876, after Maurice Quentin de La Tour

Jules de Goncourt (aka Jules Alfred de Goncourt) (1830–1870)

“Portrait de Chardin”, 1876, proof and lettered states of the same portrait of the famous painter, Jean Siméon Chardin (aka Jean Baptiste Siméon Chardin) (1699–1779), by the pastellist Maurice Quentin de La Tour (aka Maurice Quentin Delatour) (1704–1788), printed by François Liénard (fl. c1860s–1880s) and published in Paris for the periodical “L’Art”.

(left) Proof state etching on Japan paper before lettering. A strongly inked and well-printed impression on tissue-thin paper in pristine condition. Size: (sheet) 41.5 x 29.6 cm; (plate) 31.9 x 24.4 cm. Inscribed in plate: (upper left) “J.G.12.”

(right) Lettered state etching on cream laid paper as published in “L’Art”. A near faultless impression in almost pristine condition. Size: (sheet) 41.3 x 28.7 cm; (plate) 31.7 x 24.2 cm; (image borderline) 28.6 x 22 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (upper left) “J.G.12.”

Lettered in plate above the image borderline: (centre) Exposition de dessins de Maitres Anciens, a l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “La Tour del./ L’Art.”; (centre) “PORTRAIT DE CHARDIN/ (Collection de Mr. Eudoxe Marcille)”; (right) J. de Goncourt sc/ F.s Liénard Imp. Paris”.

Burty 14 (Philippe Burty 1876, “Eaux-fortes de Jules de Goncourt”, Paris, Librairie de L’Art, p. 4, cat. no. 14 [Masque de Chardin]; see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n33/mode/2up and illustration https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n63/mode/2up).

See also the description of this print in its lettered state offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-0214-214.

I am selling this remarkable pair of etchings showing different states (i.e. stages) in the execution of a portrait of the famous still-life painter, Chardin, for the total cost of AU$500 for the pair (currently US$374/EUR315.95/GBP270.23 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 these fascinating etchings offering an insight into how an artist has refined an image for publication, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

These prints have been sold

Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Profil d'homme”, c1861, after Paul Gavarni

Jules de Goncourt (aka Jules Alfred de Goncourt) (1830–1870)

“Profil d'homme”, c1861, after a sketch drawn with a toothpick by Paul Gavarni (aka Hippolyte Guillaume Sulpice Chevalier) (1804–1866), proof impression before numbering as plate 17 for publication in an edition of 2 impressions on vellum, 100 impressions on Japanese paper and 200 impressions on laid paper, printed by François Liénard (fl.c1860s–1880s) in Paris. Philippe Burty in his catalogue raisonné for (1876) advises: (transl.) “This etching appeared at the Salon of 1864” (p. 12).

Regarding Paul Gavarini, whose drawing this etching is based, in 1873 Jules de Goncourt and his brother, Edmond de Goncourt (1822–1896), published an account of Gavarni’s life and artworks, “Gavarni, l'homme et l'oeuvre” (see on online view of this publication offered by archive.org: https://archive.org/details/1873gavarnilhomm00gonc/page/310/mode/2up; and a later [1900] illustrated edition, “Gavarni, der Mensch und das Werk”: https://archive.org/details/gavarnidermensch02gonc/page/n7/mode/2up).

Etching with pale plate tone on tissue-thin Japanese paper, proof impression before the addition of publication details (viz. plate number and the printer’s address), backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 26.8 x 19.2 cm; (plate) 24x 15.6 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline; (upper left) “J. G. 42”; (upper left) “dessiné au cure dent/ par Gavarni”.

Burty 45 (Philippe Burty 1876, “Eaux-fortes de Jules de Goncourt”, Paris, Librairie de L’Art, p. 10, cat. no. 45; see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n39/mode/2up and illustration https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n85/mode/2up); IFF 44 (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes); Beraldi 45 (Henri Beraldi 1887, “Les graveurs du 19e siècle; guide de l'amateur d'estampes modernes”, vol. 7, Paris, L Conquet, p. 173, [see, “Reproductions de dessins de Gavarni”], cat. no. 45).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Portrait of a man with tousled hair and m[o]ustache, head and shoulders, in profile to left, after Gavarni c.1861 Etching with surface tone”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1876-1111-419).

Condition: a richly inked proof-state impression laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper (because the sheet is tissue thin). The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this remarkably fine etching by Jules de Goncourt of the exceptionally famous and inseparable brothers known for their literary work and diaries centred on the social life around them, for the total cost of AU$256 (currently US$196.70/EUR164.95/GBP142.25 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 boldy executed portrait study after the famous French illustrator, Paul Gavarni, noted for his prints of everyday folk and their foibles (see https://www.gutenberg.org/files/64526/64526-h/64526-h.htm), 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

Jules de Goncourt’s etching, “Le Goblet D'Argent (after Chardin)”, 1862

Jules de Goncourt (aka Jules Alfred de Goncourt) (1830–1870)

“Le Goblet D'Argent (after Chardin)”, 1862, proof impression before lettering for publication after a portion of Jean-Siméon Chardin’s (1699–1779) painting, “The Silver Goblet”, c1730, originally in the Laperlier collection (according to Philippe Burty [1876] in his catalogue raisonné, p. 13) now in the collection of the St Louis Art Museum. The final lettered state is inscribed with Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907) as the printer (see BM inv. no. 1876,1111.398). Philippe Burty (1876, [n.p.] p. 21) advises that François Liénard printed an earlier edition of 2 impressions on vellum, 100 impressions on Japanese paper and 200 impressions on laid paper.

Etching on fine China paper, proof impression before lettering for publication on Japan paper, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 41.2 x 30 cm; (plate [very soft]) 28.1? x 20.9? cm; (image borderline) 26.2 x 18.7 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “J. G. 52”.

Burty 58 (Philippe Burty 1876, “Eaux-fortes de Jules de Goncourt”, Paris, Librairie de L’Art, p. 13, cat. no. 58; see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n41/mode/2up and illustration https://archive.org/details/gri_33125008529303/page/n65/mode/2up); IFF 55 (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes): Beraldi 58 (Henri Beraldi 1887, “Les graveurs du 19e siècle; guide de l'amateur d'estampes modernes”, vol. 7, Paris, L Conquet, p. 176, cat. no. 58).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Still-life with silver cup, cherries, apples, and a glass carafe in the background, left”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1876-1111-396).

Condition: richly inked superb proof impression with generously wide margins and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper because the sheet is tissue thin. The sheet has the usual specks and unevenness of handmade Oriental paper; otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition with no tears, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this remarkably fine etching by Jules de Goncourt of the exceptionally famous and inseparable brothers known for their literary work and diaries offering a window to the social life around them—e.g. “Germinie Lacerteux”, a novel based purportedly on their family servant who stole from the brothers “to buy absinthe and cavort with her brutish gigolo” (https://haquelebac.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/germinie-lacerteux-by-the-goncourt-brothers/)— for the total cost of AU$256 (currently US$186.67/EUR157.66/GBP144.45 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 sensitively executed study of a section of a still-life painting by Chardin, 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