Abel
Mignon (aka Abel
Justin Mignon; Justin Abel Francois Xavier Mignon) (1861–1936)
“Samson
and the Lion”, c1891, proof-state impression after Léon Bonnat’s (aka Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat)
(1833–1922) painting, “The Youth of Samson, Judges XIV” (aka “Samson's Youth”),
1891, exhibited in the Paris Salon des Beaux-Arts of 1891 (see Christie’s Auctions
2006 (Auction 1717, Lot 118): https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4800786),
published by Arthur Tooth & Sons (London) with the publisher’s blind-stamp
and watermarked paper.
Engraving on buff wove paper with the
watermarks of Arthur Tooth & Sons and BFK Rives, and the blind-stamp of the
publishers, Arthur Tooth & Sons, at lower-left corner.
Size: (sheet) 32 x 45.7 cm; (plate) 30.8 x 37
cm; (image borderline) 22.8 x 27.9 cm.
Inscribed in plate within the image
borderline: (lower right corner) “[L?]n. Bonnat./ 1891.”
Lettered in plate below the image borderline:
(left) “Abel Mignon Graveur” with blind-stamp below the lettering with the ligature
mark of Arthur Tooth & Sons.
Condition: a strong and well-printed impression
in near pristine condition (i.e., there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions,
stains, foxing or signs of handling).
I am selling this finely engraved translation of Léon
Bonnat’s painting by an engraver better known for his many designs
for postage stamps—interestingly, I understand that Abel Mignon’s stamp design for what
is now the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was reissued in 2010 (see Pierre Julien’s
article [2014], “L'affaire Dreyfus, le graveur Abel Mignon et le général de
Gaulle dans ‘Timbres magazine’")—AU$277 in total (currently US$198.96/EUR175.20/GBP146.53
at the time of posting 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 exceedingly rare engraving—note that I have been unable to fine a copy of this strikingly beautiful print in any of the major art museums!—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
