Matthias Pfenninger’s etching, “Soldier Wielding a Weapon, Seen from Behind”, 1764, after Philip James de Loutherbourg

Matthias Pfenninger (ala Mathias Pfeninger; Mathias Pfenninguer) (1739–1813)

“Soldier Wielding a Weapon, Seen from Behind” (MET title) (aka “Soldier with Axe and Quiver”; “Soldat mit Beil und Köcher”), 1764, plate 7 from a series of 8 etchings, “Eight Studies of Soldiers", designed by Philip James de Loutherbourg (aka Philipp Jakob Loutherburg; Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg) (1740–1812) “during his Paris years, 1755–71” (see the description of this print offered by the MET: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/775376) in the manner of Salvator Rosa (1615–1673).

Note that the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweighttps attributes this print to Philip James de Loutherbourg (see https://nds.museum-digital.de/object/79376) from the series “Premier et seconde suites de Soldats”, but from my reading of the documentation regarding these series offered by Henri Béraldi 1-2 (see https://archive.org/details/p2lesgraveursdud02portuoft/page/750/mode/2up); Charles Le Blanc 21–32 (see https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_urJCAAAAYAAJ/page/573/mode/2up) and G K Nagler 14 (see https://archive.org/details/neuesallgemeines08nagl/page/82/mode/2up), advise that both series had six plates only and so this attribution as plate 7 in either series seems doubtful—of course I may be wrong.

Etching on heavy laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 28.5 x 19.6 cm; (image borderline) 27 x 18.9 cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline at upper right: “7.”

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline, in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this arresting—perhaps ever iconic—image of a soldier portrayed in the manner of Salvator Rosa, for AU$287 (currently US$193.72/EUR176.62/GBP153.02 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 finely executed etching portraying the statuesque strength and the rock-solid steadfast spirit of an idealised soldier, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Matthias Pfenninger’s etching, “Title Plate to Philip James de Loutherbourg’s ‘D’Animaux’ Suite”, c1806

Matthias Pfenninger (aka Mathias Pfeninger; Mathias Pfenninguer) (1739–1813)

“Title Plate to Philip James de Loutherbourg’s ‘D’Animaux’ Suite” (aka “1ere Suite D'Animaux Inventés et Dessinés par J P Loutherbourg Peintre du Roy” [as inscribed on plate]), c1800–1813 (the BM advises that the proposed dating is based on the active dates of the publisher and that the print may have been executed earlier [see BM’s Curator’s comment for inv. no. 1919,0415.774]), title plate to the first series of etchings showcasing animals after the designs of Philip James de Loutherbourg (aka Philipp Jakob Loutherburg; Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg) (1740–1812), published in Paris by Aaron Martinet (?) (1762–1841).

Etching on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline (with loss of the publication details, “A Paris chez Martinet.”) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet/image borderline) 23.6 x 32.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate on tablet: “1ere SUITE D'ANIMAUX INVENTÉS ET DESSINÉS PAR J P LOUTHERBOURG PEINTRE DU ROY”.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Title page to a series of etchings after de Loutherbourg, two men resting by a well at left surmounted by statue of a lion, with a dog and three mules to right in a mountainous landscape”

( https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1919-0415-774).

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression, trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. There is a dot stain at lower left, otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this title-plate to a series of etchings based on de Loutherbourg’s drawings of animals, for $207 in total (currently US$145.09/EUR124.66/GBP112.70 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 interestingly designed composition—mindful that the designer, Philip James de Loutherbourg, also designed the “Eidophusikon” (an animated presentation seen as a precursor to movie making [see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidophusikon)—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