Nicolas Chaperon, “God Appears to Moses in a Pillar of Smoke”, 1649

Nicolas Chaperon (aka Nicolas Chapron) (1612–1654/5)

“God Appears to Moses in a Pillar of Smoke”, 1649

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on laid paper with a small margin around the platemark, professionally supported on tissue-thin archival (Kozo) washi paper. This print is plate 35 from the series of 54 plates (including title and dedication plates) titled “Raphael Bible” (also known as “Sacrae Historiae Acta a Raphael Urbin in Vaticanis xystis ad picturae miraculum expressa”), after Raphael’s (Raffaello Sanzio; Raffaello Santi) (1483–1520) frescoes in the Logge di Raffaello of the Vatican. It was published in Paris by Pierre Mariette I (c. 1603–1657) from the first Parisian edition. This impression is from state iii (of iv), prior to the addition of the royal privilege note, “cum privilegio regis,” of the second edition.

The impression is richly inked, crisp, and well-printed. There is a stain on the lower edge at the centre; otherwise, the sheet is in good condition with no tears, holes, or folds.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 26.1 x 28.9 cm
• Platemark: 24.8 x 26.5 cm
• Image borderline: 23.4 x 26.1 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image borderline):

 • Left: “R.V.I.”

(Raphaelis. Urbinatis. Inventor.)
• Centre: “Descendebat nubis Columua [sic], et loquebatur Dns [Dominus]. cum Moyse, stabantq. / uniuersi, et adorabant perfores tabernaculor suorum. Exod. XXXIII.”

(A cloud-like pillar descended, and God spoke with Moses, and all stood and worshipped at the entrances of their tents. Exodus XXXIII.)
• Right: “N. C. F. / Typis P. Mariette Via Jacobea Sub insigne spei. 35”

(Nicolas Chaperon Fecit [made it] / printed by Pierre Mariette at Via Jacobea [Rue Saint-Jacques] at the shop, “The Sign of Hope” [L'Espérance], plate 35)

References

• IFF 35 (IFF 35 (Roger-Armand Weigert, Inventaire du Fonds Français Graveurs du XVIIe Sièle, vol. 2, 1951, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, p. 270, cat. no. 35). See: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488514d/f282    
• Robert-Dumesnil 37-3(4) (Robert-Dumesnil, Le Peintre-Graveur Français, 1842, Paris, vol. 6, p. 226, cat. no. 37). See: https://archive.org/details/bnf-bpt6k65576943/page/n245/mode/2up)
• Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200170532

Price & Shipping:

 AU$298 (approximately US$213.06 / €181.25 / £157.91), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s  to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a smooth and safe transaction.

This print has been sold

Stefano della Bella, “A Lion Standing, Looking to the Right”, c. 1641

Stefano della Bella (1610–1664)
“A Lion Standing, Looking to the Right” or “Un Lion Debout, Regardant à Droit”, circa 1641

Technical Details & Condition:
Etching on fine laid paper, with a narrow margin surrounding the platemark. The impression is richly inked, strong, and faultlessly printed—possibly a lifetime impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate. The sheet is in near pristine condition, free from tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or stains. This is plate 6 from the series of twenty-five plates (including the title plate), “Diversi Animali” (Various Animals). It is an impression from state iii (of iii), with the publisher’s details for Pierre Mariette I (c. 1603–1657) erased from the previous state.

Dimensions:
• Sheet: 8.8 x 10.8 cm
• Plate mark: 8.5 x 10.6 cm

Plate Lettering:
• Lower left: “6 Stef. della Bella fecit”
• Lower centre: “Cum priuilegio”

References:
• De Vesme/Massar 695 (Alexandre de Vesme, revised by Phyllis Dearborn Massar, 1971, Stefano della Bella: Catalogue Raisonné, New York, Collectors Editions, [text] p. 111, cat. no. 695, [ill.] p. 133)
• The British Museum describes this print in its first state: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0513-61

Price & Shipping:
AU$266 (approximately US$188.04 / €159.57 / £139.39), including worldwide express shipping.
Please note: Import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this finely rendered etching of a standing lion, with two other lions in the distance, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice for a seamless purchase.

This print has been sold 

Herman van Swanevelt, “Balaam and the Ass”, c. 1635

Herman van Swanevelt (aka Herman Swaneveld) (1603–1655)

“Balaam and the Ass” (TIB title) (aka “Balaam”; “Bileam en de ezel met de engel” [Balaam and the donkey with the angel]), c. 1635 (1629–1641), from the series, “Old Testament Representations” (“Oudtestamentische voorstellingen”), published in Paris by Pierre Mariette I (1596–1657) with royal privilege from Louis XIV (King of France). 

Etching on laid paper (grape watermark [French]) with reasonably wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 27.7 x 34.8 cm; (plate); 25.3 x 32 cm; (image borderline) 22.7 x 31.2 cm.

Hand-inscribed numbers in ink: (upper right corner) “40”; (lower right corner) “2”.

Lettered in plate within the image borderline: (upper right): “H Swaneûelt Fecit Rom.”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Auec Priuil du Roy”; (centre) “A Paris chez Pierre Mariette Rue S^t Iacques a lésperance.”

State v (of viii) showing the publication details for Pierre Mariette before they were changed with publication details for Nicolas Jean Baptiste de Poilly in the sixth state.

TIB 2.111 (Mark Carter Leach & Peter Morse [eds.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 2, Abaris Books, New York, p. 315); Hollstein Dutch 5

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: (transl.) “In a hilly landscape with trees, Balaam is depicted in the left foreground, seated on a recoiling donkey. In his right hand, he holds a sword, and before him stands an angel drawing a sword from its sheath” (https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200261014).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-2299.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with good margins (approx. 1.5 cm). Beyond an area of thinness in the margin at upper right and partial erased pencil notations along the lower margin, the sheet is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or other issues.

Price & Shipping: AU$394 (approx. US$257.53/ €222.84/ £195.59), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and superb 17th-century impression of a beautiful etching by one of the foremost Dutch masters of the Baroque era—highlighting the luminous quality characteristic of the artist’s work and the dramatic interaction between Balaam and the angel, emphasised by a burst of light surrounding them—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will gladly provide a secure and convenient PayPal invoice for your purchase.

This print has been sold 

Israël Silvestre, “View of the Mountain and Cave of Sainte-Baume”, c. 1640

Israël Silvestre (aka Israel Sylvestre) (1621–1691)

“View of the Mountain and Cave of Sainte-Baume” (aka “Gezicht op de berg en grot van Sainte-Baume”; “Natural view of the Sainte-Baume in Provence”; “Vue au naturel de la Sainte Baume en Provence”), c. 1640, published in Paris by Pierre Mariette I (1596–1657) with royal privilege from Louis XIV (King of France).  

Etching on fine laid paper with watermark.

Size: (sheet) 16.7 x 31.3 cm; (plate) 13.8 x 30.7 cm; (image borderline) 11.1 x 30.3 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Dessignée et grauée par Israel Syluestre”; (centre) “Veüe au naturel de la Saincte Baume en Prouence./ Auec priuilege du Roy”; (right) “A. Paris chez Pierre Mariette, rue S. Iacques a l’Esperance”.

LeBlanc 698; Faucheux 288

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Sainte-Baume in Provence: landscape with cascading river at right, and at left a fortified city standing at the bottom of a mountain ridge, with the entrance of the cave visible behind the town/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_X-9-178).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200255617.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins. Beyond minor surface marks and areas of thinness visible when held to the light, the sheet is in a good condition, free from tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

Price & Shipping: AU$262 (approx. US$169.95 / €147.32 / £129.48), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in purchasing this panoramic view looking towards the cave in the mountain where Christian tradition holds that Saint Mary Magdalene spent her final years—note the location marker of tiny angels in the sky above the saint’s grotto (though I may be mistaken about this). To inquire, contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com, and I will send you a PayPal invoice for a secure and convenient payment process.