François Jollain, “Title Page of “Animalia ad Vivum Delineata’”, 1688, after Antonio Tempesta

François Jollain I (also known as François Iollain) (1641–1704) and/or in collaboration with François Gérard Jollain (circa 1660–1723)

Note: Some sources cite Gérard Jollain I (also known as Gérard Iollain) (fl. 1630s–1683) as the engraver of this plate. However, the dates associated with this artist do not align with the inscription “1688” on the plate.

Title Page of “Animalia ad Vivum Delineata” (Animals Drawn from Life), 1688, after Antonio Tempesta (c. 1555–1630). Published in Paris by Jollain—possibly François Gérard Jollain, as the publisher’s address corresponds with this artist-publisher—in 1688.

Technical Details & Condition:

Engraved on fine laid paper with partial watermark, trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark. The impression is strong and well-printed. The sheet is in near-pristine condition, free from tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or signs of handling.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 12.7 x 16.5 cm
• Plate mark: 12.4 x 16.2 cm
• Image border: 12.2 x 15.9 cm

Plate Lettering:

On the title banderole:
“ANIMALIA/ ad vivum Delineata et Œr i/ Impressa, Studio et Arte/ Antonii Tempeste/ Livre D'animaux/ Designez et Grauez d’après/ Nature par Ant. Tempeste/ ce vendent A Paris chez Lollain/ Rue St. Jacques à la nfan lessu.”
(Note: the address may refer to the printery at St. Jacques à l’Enfant Jésus, Paris.)
Date inscribed: “1688”.
Please note that there may be minor reading errors in the transcription.

Price & Shipping:

AU$276 (approximately US$178.25 / €154.74 / £136.13), including worldwide express shipping.

Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this seldom-seen title page engraving, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

François Jollain's engraving, “Partridge and Eagle”, c.1680

François Jollain the elder (c.1641–1704).

“Partridge and Eagle” (aka “Perdrix et Aigle”), c.1680, plate 11 from the series “Diversae Avium Specie Studiosissime ad Vitam Delineatae” (Diverse bird species accurately drawn from life), published by Gérard (?) Jollain (fl.1660–1683) in Paris in c.1680.

Todocoleccion offers a description of the prints in the series and showcases each plate in its context in the publication (including this plate) by scrolling to the bottom of their web page:

 https://www.todocoleccion.net/arte-grabados/diversae-avium-specie-studiosissime-ad-vitam-delineatae-ed-jollain-paris-circa-1680~x90037432 .

Note: Edward Cooper (fl.1682–1725) published a similar set of prints under the same title after the designs of Francis Barlow (c.1626–1704), but this print is not a part of that series as showcased by The Tate Gallery:

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/barlow-various-birds-and-beasts-drawn-from-the-life-66048.

Adriaen Collaert (c.1560–1618) engraved a very similar plate but with a landscape background and under the series title “Avium Vivæ Icones”, published by Theodoor Galle (1571–1633); see

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-two-birds-in-a-landscape-adriaen-collaert-1598-1618-104907166.html.

Engraving with platetone on watermarked laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 17.4 x 24.3 cm; (plate) 13.5 x 18.5 cm; (image borderline) 12.4 x 18 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (upper left) “[La] perderix se nourit d’oeufs de freinis, …/ …/ …/ …au mal des yeux./ Perdix/ Perdris”; (upper right) “Aquila/ L’Aygle se nourit de gibier, …/ …/ …/ …/ …/ …/ est de couleur faulle.”

Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (lower right corner) “11.”

Condition: early impression showing scratched guidelines for the lettering with full margins as published (based on the light age toning at the sheet edges). The initial letters on the upper left were smudged during printing and there are finely punched binding holes on the left side of the sheet. The sheet is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this remarkable engraving, showing not only the two exquisitely portrayed birds, but, interestingly, also the finely scored lettering guidelines (before they wore away during the printing process), unintentional lines created by the polishing of the plate, a printer’s smudge where the plate was handled at the upper left and a deposit of link on the plate edge resulting from poor wiping of the plate, for a total cost of AU$210 (currently US$159.05/EUR142.94/GBP122.30 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this lifetime impression of a rare engraving from the late 1600s, 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