Albert Maignan, “Merlin the Enchanter and the Fairy of the Lake”, 1904

Albert Maignan (also known as Albert Pierre René Maignan) (1845–1908)

“Merlin the Enchanter and the Fairy of the Lake” (“Merlin l’enchanteur et la fée du Lac” or “Merlin l'enchanteur et la fée Viviane”), 1904

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on heavy cream laid paper (A. Porcabeuf watermark) with wide margins as issued. Published in Paris by the Société des Amis de l'Eau-forte (Society of Friends of Etching, founded in Paris in 1897) and bearing the publisher’s dry stamp (blind stamp) of the ligature letters “AEF” in the lower left margin. This print was not part of a narrative series on Arthurian legends. Instead, it was issued exclusively as a loose impression for the society's annual subscription portfolio, “Exercice 1904.”

Although published by the Société des Amis de l'Eau-forte (as authenticated by the dry stamp), this impression represents an early state of the plate—characterised by pure etching with crisp linework and delicate linear shading. It demarcates a state before letters and additional tonal work, predating the version seen in some public collections (such as inventory no. E 2019-0347-009 at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Genève), which features substantial additional cross-hatching, heavy tonal linework, and added lettered text in the lower right reading: “IMPRIMÉ POUR LA VILLE DE GENÈVE.”

The society strictly limited its membership roster to approximately 100 to 200 elite collectors during this period. Consequently, the contemporary edition size for this 1904 printing is exceptionally small (approx. 100 copies), making extant impressions highly scarce.

A strong, rich, and well-printed impression with excellent contrast. The sheet features exceptionally wide margins as originally issued. Aside from a few small closed tears confined to the outer left edge of the sheet and minor surface marks on the verso, the paper remains in excellent condition. It is entirely free of holes, folds, foxing, or significant staining.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 61.6 x 44 cm
• Platemark: 52.7 x 39.1 cm
• Image borderline: 41.8 x 30 cm

References:

• Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Genève: inv. no. E 2019-0347-008 (matching this impression)
• Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Genève: Inv. no. E 2019-0347-009 (later impression)

Price & Shipping:

AU$288 (approximately US$203.48 / €175.24 / £151.55), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To acquire this rare, early-state impression—capturing a dream-like, poetic interaction between a mesmerised Merlin and the captivating Viviane—please contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. Secure payment is handled via PayPal invoice for a seamless transaction.

Gustave Greux’s etching, “Rêverie”, c1875, after Albert Maignan

Gustave Marie Greux (1838–1919)

“Rêverie”, c1875, after the painting of the same composition shown in the 1875 Salon by Albert Maignan (aka Albert Pierre René Maignan) (1845–1908), published in “L’Art, revue hebdomadaire illustrée” (1875), printed by François Liénard (fl.c.1860s–1880s) in Paris.

Etching on ivory laid paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 42.8 x 29.6 cm; (plate) 28.6 x 20.6 cm; (image borderline) 26.1 x 18.4 cm.

Lettered on plate above the image borderline: (centre) “Salon de 1875.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) 'A.Maignan, pinx./ L'Art.”; (centre) “RÊVERIE.”;  (right) “G, Greux,sc./ Fçois Liénard,Imp.Paris.”

IFF 6 or 9 (Inventaire du Fonds Français: Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, Paris, 1930)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Daydreaming, after Maignan: a young woman sitting under a tree, neglecting the embroidery work laid on her knees; a dog lying at her feet; published in 'L'Art'”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3369861&partId=1&searchText=greux&page=1)

Condition: richly inked and well-printed—virtually faultless—impression still retaining traces of the guidelines for the text line above the image (i.e. there is very little wear to the printing plate) with wide margins around the platemark (as published?) in near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, creases, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of use).

I am selling this curiously wonderful image employing the form of a pollarded tree as an analogue/visual equivalent for the state of daydreaming that the young woman has slipped into while embroidering a long cloth, for AU$156 (currently US$110.03/EUR96.02/GBP86.20 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 scene of romantic peace that is simultaneously—to my eyes—a psychological mindscape where portrayed forms connote more than superficial appearances, 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

Pirodon’s lithograph of Maignan’s painting, “Le Dante rencontre Matilda"

Eugène Louis Pirodon (1824–1908 after)

"Le Dante rencontre Matilda" (Dante meets Matilda), after the painting of the same name by Albert Pierre René Maignan (1845–1908), exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1881.

Lithograph on heavy wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 80.2 x 57 cm; (image borderline) 45.5 x 33.8 cm.

Lettered below the image borderline (left) “ALBERT MAIGNAN PINXt”; (centre) “IMP J. & A. LEMERCIER PARIS / LE DANTE RENCONTRE MATILDA / D. BERR Fils Editeru, 66, rue de Bondy”; (right) “EUG PIRODON”

Condition: faultless impression in good condition within the image area (i.e. there are no tears, stains, abrasions, holes or foxing), but the outer regions of the margins are lightly soiled (i.e. dusty).

I am selling this huge lithograph for a total cost of AU$283 including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this marvellous print of Dante meeting Matilda, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

When I first looked that this image of Dante meeting Matilda, my memory took me back to my old school days when I was first introduced to Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, “Dante's Divine Comedy.” Sadly I was not an attentive student “back then” and my interest level was minimal concerning Dante’s travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. This a great shame, as I now have significant thinness in my understanding of the allegorical significance of Dante’s journey.

For those who may also have drifted off at school when Alighieri’s poem was discussed, this lithograph illustrates the moment when Dante has arrived at the summit of Mount Purgatory accompanied by the poet Virgil and meets Matilda. This beautiful lady prepares Dante for his ultimate meeting with Beatrice who takes over Virgil’s role of being Dante’s guide.