Frans de Neve’s etching, “Shepherdess Playing a Basque Drum”

Frans de Neve (II) (aka Franciscus de Neve; Francois de Neue; Bloosaerken) (1606–87)

“Shepherdess Playing a Basque Drum”, c.1621–87

Etching on wove paper trimmed to, or within, the platemark and lined on a conservator’s support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31 x 39.4 cm; (image borderline) 30.2 x 39 cm.

Stamped with the monograms of the collectors: Friedrich August II, King of Saxonia (Lugt 971) and Peterson (Lugt 2064). Inscribed in the lower margin: "Franciscus de Neue In. e fecit." and "Si Stampano da Gio: Iacomo de Rossi in Romae alla Pace."

Hollstein 13; Bartsch IV.124.13

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Landscape with a seated woman playing tambourine in the centre, being watched by a young man to the left, trees on either side, mountains in the background” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1673511&partId=1&searchText=Frans+de+Neve&page=1)

Condition: well-inked impression showing little or no wear. The sheet has been recently washed and laid upon a conservator’s support sheet to address the previous dustiness, handling marks and fragility of the sheet. There are small stains.

I am selling this etching—one of my personal favourite prints in all of my collection—for the total cost of AU$306 (currently US$239.39/EUR215.24/GBP185.34 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this museum quality master print that was once in the collection of Friedrich August II, King of Saxonia (Lugt 971) and Peterson (Lugt 2064), 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

Frans (aka Franciscus) de Neve has been a bit of a problem for art writers as he shared the same first name as his father, resulting in a "smudging" in the attribution of both artists' works. Fortunately there is no problem with the attribution of this print as it is part of the son's oeuvre: Frans/Franciscus II. What is also interesting about the son is his nickname, Bloosaerken/Blaserken, which was bestowed upon him by his fellow members of the Bentvueghels—an association of Dutch and Flemish artists who were working in Rome at the time.

Great prints are often more than the sum of their parts; for me, the parts can be just as revealing as the whole image. To understand what I mean by this curious comment, see the detail of the maiden's hand tapping her tambourine and note the variation and sensitivity of the artist's treatment of the hand's silhouette edge. Certainly this print and this particular impression has caught the eye of at least one of the great collectors of prints as his seal/stamp graces the bottom corner: Friedrich August II, King of Saxonia (Lugt 971).

Frans de Neve’s etching, “Diana and Endymion”

Frans de Neve (aka de Neue) (1606–87) “Diana and Endymion”, c 1660–67

This is the first print in the series “Four Landscapes with Large Figures” published by Giovanni Giacomo de' Rossi (1627–91)

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed on or slightly within the platemark

Size: (sheet) 19.3 x 25.9 cm 

Inscribed below the borderline; (lower left) “"Fran. de Neue In. e fecit"; (lower right) "Si Stampano in Roma da Gio: Iacomo de Rossi alla Pace"

The British Museum offers the following description of the print: “Landscape with a sleeping Endymion in the centre, Diana on a cloud next to him, two putti to the right, trees on either side, a mountain in the background to the left; from a series of four prints showing landscapes with large figures” (http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1673458&partId=1&people=113325&peoA=113325-2-60&page=1)

Barsch IV.119 (5.119); Hollstein 1

Condition: crisp impression in superb condition, but with a few specks, trimmed to the platemark and with a collector’s oval stamp lower-right corner. Verso has remnants of old mounting hinges.

This print has been sold

Although most folk already know the story of how Diana falls in love with the young shepherd, Endymion, who seems to spend his time asleep on a mountaintop. What may not be so well known is that Diana, the Roman goddess noted for her virginity, is modelled on the Greek goddess, Selene, who—according to reliable sources on Mount Olympus—has fifty daughters to Endymion. No wonder the poor chap is exhausted! Of course, Diana isn’t so blessed (as she is a chaste goddess) and so her love for the handsome shepherd is simply platonic. Nevertheless, she does bestow upon him eternal youth and time to rest in full naked manly splendour on any mountaintop he chooses.