Alphonse Legros, “Peasant Women in the Neighbourhood of Boulogne,” 1873

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)
“Peasant Women in the Neighbourhood of Boulogne” (or “Paysannes des environs de Boulogne”), 1873

Technical Details & Condition:
Etching and drypoint with plate tone on wove paper, with wide margins. This print was published by Seeley & Co., London, in the art periodical edited by Philip Gilbert Hamerton, “The Portfolio,” in August 1873. This impression is from the published state: Bliss (1923) proposes state v (of v), and Malassis & Thibaudeau (1878) proposes state iii (of iii). The impression is richly inked and nearly faultlessly printed. The sheet is in pristine condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, or handling marks.

Dimensions:
• Sheet: 38.1 x 28 cm
• Platemark: 22.8 x 15 cm
• Image borderline: 22.6 x 14.7 cm

Plate Lettering:
• Signed in the plate at the lower right corner: “A. Legros”

References:
• Bliss 80 (Frank E. Bliss, “A Catalogue of the Etchings, Drypoints and Lithographs by Professor Alphonse Legros (1837–1911) in the Collection of Frank E. Bliss,” 1923, London, p. 19, cat. no. 80)
• Malassis & Thibaudeau 80 (A. P.-Malassis & A.-W. Thibaudeau, “Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographie de M. Alphonse Legros,” 1878, Paris, J. Baur, pp. 51–52, cat. no. 80)
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1878-0511-78
• Cleveland Museum of Art: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1945.275
(Note: The catalogue entry for this print is listed as “Bliss 94,” which is incorrect and should be Bliss 80. The confusion likely arises from the similar title, even if the composition differs; see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1877-1013-2959.)
• The Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa) offers additional insights:
“Paysannes des Environs de Boulogne (Peasant women from near Boulogne) is an 1873 etching depicting three young peasant women seated together, their heads bowed and hands folded in contemplative prayer. At the feet of one is a small sack tied with string. The women sit in individual rustic chairs rather than pews, suggesting informal prayers in the home rather than a congregation. Their local dress, including distinctive bonnets and capes, signals their rural status, distant from the industrial modernity of the urban centre. The use of light line conveys the simplicity of the setting and the piety of the women.”
https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/44153

Price & Shipping:
AU$235 (approximately US$165.94 / €140.12 / £121.99), including worldwide express shipping.
Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you’re interested in this superb impression of a masterwork of etching—particularly noting the subtle tonal contrasts, such as the foreground figure’s proximity to the viewer compared to the distant seated figure, and the transition from contour marks to cross-hatching in the background—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a smooth and safe transaction.

This print has been sold 

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)

“The Baptism” (“Le Baptème”), 1869, published in London by Holloway and Son in an edition of fifty impressions. The title, “The Baptism”, was changed to “Peasants in Church” in 1870 when the plate was reduced in size for publication in Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s (1834–1894) (ed.), “The Portfolio”.

Etching on fine Japanese paper.

Size: (sheet) 40.7 x 30.3 cm; (plate) 38 x 27.6 cm.

Signed in plate: (lower left corner) “A. Legros.”

State iii (of iv)

Malassis & Thibaudeau 65 (Auguste Poulet-Malassis & Alphonse Wyatt Thibaudeau 1877, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié de M. Alphonse Legros”, Paris, J Baur, pp. 40-41, cat. no. 65, 3^rd state  state [see https://archive.org/details/catalogueraisonn00poul/page/40/mode/2up]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this etching: “Three figures, seen half-length to right, from the painting of the same name in the collection of G Howard; young woman in centre wearing close cap and cloak, her head turned to front and facing downwards, with two reverential men behind. c.1869 Etching with some surface tone, printed on oriental paper” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1949-0411-2226).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression on tissue thin paper. The sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this marvellous etching, before it was later reduced in size, showing a baptismal scene from Legros’ painting in the G Howard collection, for the total price of AU$200 (currently US$139.14/EUR136.25/GBP115.62 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail 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 spectacularly fine etching—note the artist’s skill in capturing the moment of quiet reflection expressed in the young woman’s face and the piety of the men on either side of her—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

Alphonse Legros’ etching, “Peasants in Church”, 1869

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)

“Peasants in Church” (originally titled “Le Baptème” [“The Baptism”] before reduction in the plate size), 1869, published in London by Seeley Jackson and Halliday in Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s (1834–1894) (ed.) annual, “The Portfolio”, 1870, page 140. Note that this plate was originally larger, but Legros cut it to fit Hamerton’s publication with loss of the lower section and Legros’ signature.

Etching on wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 24.5 x 34.6 cm; (plate) 21.6 x 27.6 cm; (image borderline) 20.8 x 27 cm.

State iv (of iv) with reduction in the size of the plate for publication in “The Portfolio”.

Malassis & Thibaudeau 65 (Auguste Poulet-Malassis & Alphonse Wyatt Thibaudeau 1877, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié de M. Alphonse Legros”, Paris, J Baur, pp. 40-41, cat. no. 65, 4^th state [see https://archive.org/details/catalogueraisonn00poul/page/40/mode/2up]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this etching before it was reduced in size: “Three figures, seen half-length to right, from the painting of the same name in the collection of G Howard; young woman in centre wearing close cap and cloak, her head turned to front and facing downwards, with two reverential men behind. c.1869” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1949-0411-2226).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (almost faultless) impression. Beyond a small mark verso, the sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this marvellous etching showing a section of a baptismal scene from Legros’ painting in the G Howard collection for the total price of AU$298 (currently US$206.19/EUR202.11/GBP172.05 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail 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 spectacularly fine etching—note the artist’s skill in capturing the moment of quiet reflection expressed in the young woman’s face and the piety of the men on either side of her—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

Alphonse Legros’ etching, “Portrait of Edward John Poynter”, 1877; photogravure after Poynter, “Study for the Head of St. John”, 1882

(left) Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)

“Portrait of Edward John Poynter” (aka “Portrait de E.-J. Poynter, Esq^re” [Poulet-Malassis’ title]), 1877, published in London as an illustration to Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s (1834-1894) annual, “The Portfolio”, 1877, opposite p.12.

Etching with drypoint with pale plate tone printed in brown ink on laid paper with Van Gelder watermark.

Size: (sheet) 34.8 x 23.6 cm; (plate) 25.7 x 17 cm; (image borderline) 21.5 x 15.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A. Legros”.

State v (of v) with the addition of the artist’s name.

Poulet-Malassis 42.v (Auguste Poulet-Malassis 1877, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié de M. Alphonse Legros”, Paris, J Baur, pp. 23–24, cat. no. 42 [see https://archive.org/details/catalogueraisonn00poul/page/22/mode/2up]).

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(right) Photogravure after Edward John Poynter (aka Sir Edward John Poynter) (1836–1919)

“Study for the Head of St. John”, 1882, photogravure after a chalk study for an abandoned project for the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, published in London as an illustration to “The Portfolio”, 1882, opposite p. 96. See another study by Poynter and description of the abandoned St. Paul's Cathedral project described by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1919-1216-31).

Photogravure on laid paper with “MBM Portfolio” watermark and full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 35.5 x 24.3 cm; (plate) 27.3 x 20.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left) “Mar.4,80”.

__________

Condition: both prints are strong impressions (almost faultless) in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this pair of historically significant prints for AU$377 as the total price for the pair (currently US$258.59/EUR253.96/GBP214.85 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail 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 pair of prints related to the painter, printmaker and sculptor, Edward John Poynter, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Alphonse Legros’ etching, “La Mort et le Bûcheron, no. 2”, 1876

Alphonse Legros (1837–1911)

“La Mort et le Bûcheron, n^o. 2” (aka “Death and the Woodcutter”), 1876, printed by Alfred Salmon (aka Adolphe Ardail; Salmon & Ardail; Alfred Fortuné Salmon) (fl.1863–1894) and published by Charpentier et Cie (fl.1813–) in Paris in “L'Art”, no. 93, 1876. Note the Legros executed four separate etched plates of the same subject with variations (Bliss 141; 142; 181; 213) and this is the second plate.

Etching with drypoint and pale plate tone on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 40 x 29.3 cm; (plate) 33.1 x 24.3 cm; (image borderline) 31.4 x 23.2 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s initials within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “AL”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A. Legros, pinx. & sculp./ L’Art.”; (centre) “LA MORT ET LE BÛCHERON.”; (right) “Imp. A. Salmon, Paris.”

State xi (of xi) with publication details for “L’Art”.

Malassis & Thibaudeau 142 xi (Auguste Poulet-Malassis & Alphonse Wyatt Thibaudeau 1877, “Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé et lithographié de Alphonse Legros”, Paris, chez J. Baur, libraire-éditeur, pp. 92–3, cat. no. 142 xi); Bliss 142 xi (Frank E Bliss 1923, “A Catalogue of the Etchings, Drypoints and Lithographs by Professor Alphonse Legros [1837–1911], London, [Bliss], p. 34, cat. no. 142 xi).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Woodcutter in forest with bundle of wood, horrified and cowering to see Death approaching with scythe at left; second plate; published in the journal 'L'Art', no.93, 8 October 1876. c.1876” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1877-0210-601).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, stains or foxing.

I am selling this remarkable etching capturing in a moment of radiant light a woodsman startled by the ominous apparition of the grim figure of Death—regarding the suggestion of early morning forest mist, I understand that Legros abraded the printing plate by first rubbing it against stone (state iii) and later sandpaper (state iv) to create the pale surface tone of this impression—for AU$288 (currently US$204.86/EUR179.42/GBP151.57 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 visually engaging and technically fascinating etching by one of the major 19^th century printmakers, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.