Martin Elias Ridinger, “A White Badger in a Rocky Landscape”, c.1750s

Martin Elias Ridinger (1730–1780) after the design by his father, Johann Elias Ridinger (1698–1767). Note that the British museum has attributed this print to Johann Elias Ridinger (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1917-1208-395), but the inscribed production details on the plate advise that the father designed and published the print and his son executed it.

“A White Badger in a Rocky Landscape”, c.1750s, plate 74 in the series, (transl.) “Marvellous Deer and other Strange Animals” (see Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, p. 276 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/276/mode/2up]), published posthumously by Johann Elias Ridinger in 1768 in Augsburg.

Regarding the series in which this etching features (“Marvellous Deer and other Strange Animals”), Thienemann (1856) offers the following expanded description of the animals portrayed: (transl.) “Exact and correct representations of the most wondrous deer, as well as other unusual animals, hunted, shot, captured alive, or kept by great men themselves, conceived and produced with the high trust and pleasure of all friends and admirers of rarities found in nature” (p. 62 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/62/mode/2up]).

Etching on laid paper with a small margin around the image borderline and writing edge backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 33.6 x 25.6cm; (image borderline) 28.5 x 24.4cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline: (right) “74”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Joh. El. Ridinger inv. del. et exc. Aug. Vind.”; (centre) “Diser sehr rare weisse Dachs, welcher mit gelb röthlichten und dun-/ ckel castanien flecken gespringet war, ist A^o. 1724. den 5. gtoris im/ Parck beÿ S^t. Hubertsburg ausgegraben und behaezt worden.” ([transl.] “This very rare white badger, which was spotted with yellow, reddish and dark chestnut, was dug up and kept in the park near St. Hubertsburg on the 5th of August 1724.”); (right) “Mart. El. Ridinger sculpsit.”

Thienemann 316 (Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, “Leben und Wirken des ... Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger ….”, Leipzig, Rudolph Weigel, p. 75, cat. no. 316 [https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/74/mode/2up]).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline and writing edge, laid onto archival (millennium-quality) washi paper that provides generous margins. Beyond restoration to the chipped upper right corner, the sheet is in excellent condition, free of tears, holes, folds, or significant stains.

I am selling this marvellously endearing etching of white badger enjoying the first rays of morning sun, for the total cost of AU$302 (approximately US$194, EUR 171.82, or GBP 145.63), this includes worldwide express postage and handling. Please note that any applicable import duties or taxes imposed by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb representation of a rare white badger sporting its assortment of spots—note the considerable and subtle skill of the artist to denote that the badger’s hair is unmistakably white with mid-toned spots—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Martin Elias Ridinger’s etching, “Hunter in the Winter”, 1745–60

Martin Elias Ridinger (1730–1780)

“Venator hieme obdurans et rigidus” (transl. “Hunter and a harsh winter hardens”) (aka “Der im Winter ausdaurende verwegne Jäger”; “Hunter in the winter with killed stag and bear”), 1745–60, from the series of four oval plates, “Die vier Jahreszeiten des Jaegers” (transl. “Four seasons of Hunters”), after Martin Ridinger’s father, Johann Elias Ridinger (1698–1767), published by Johann Elias Ridinger in Augsburg.

Note: although this print is a part of the series of four oval plates focused on the seasons, Thienemann (1856) advises that it is a part of a larger series of twenty-five plates and a title plate (p. 34).

Etching on laid paper with small margins backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 39.4 x 30cm; (plate [BM measurements]) 37.8 x 27.8 cm; (image borderline) 33 x 26.3 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline with German and Latin titles and with four lines of verse in each language.

Inscribed on plate below the lettered text: (left) “Joh. El. Ridinger inv. del. et exc. Aug. Vind.”; (right) “Mart. El. Ridinger sculps.”

Thienemann 1856 112 (4) (Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, “Leben und Wirken des ... Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger ….”, Rudolph Weigel, Leipzig, pp. 33–4).

(Note: this catalogue may be viewed online or downloaded free-of-charge at archive.org: https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/32

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A hunter seated in front of his make-shift tent in a forest, surrounded by his dogs; at left various killed animals, including a bear and a lynx; from a series of four oval illustrations of the seasons on hatched ground. Etching”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1599890&partId=1&searchText=Martin+Elias+Ridinger+&page=1)

Condition: crisp and richly inked early impression in excellent condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains—beyond light age-toning at the edges of the margins—or foxing). The sheet has small margins and is backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this graphically strong etching showing the Spartan life and rewards of an 18^th century hunter in winter, for the total cost of AU$270 (currently US$194.69/EUR171.82/GBP155.31 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this exceptionally fine masterwork of etching, 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