Francisque de Saint-Etienne’s etching, “Formentera (Iles Baléares)”, 1860

Francisque de Saint-Etienne (aka Francisc de Saint-Étienne; Louis Francisc Hippolyte Bessodes de Roquefeuille [true name]; Louis Francisque Hippolyte Bessodes de Roquefeuil) (1824–1885)

“Formentera (Iles Baléares)”, 1860, published in France in June 1860 opposite page 306 in the art periodical, “Gazette des Beaux-Arts”, as an illustration to the article by Xavier Nogaret, “Exposition de Montpellier” (pp. 302–309). This impression is from a state either before lettering, or after erasure of lettering, showing the printer’s details: “Imp. Delâtre, Paris.”

Etching on chine-collé on wove paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 30.3 x 37.8 cm; (sheet) 16 x 24.3 cm; (plate) 11.4 x 20.8 cm; (chine collé) 11 x 20.1 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left scratch inscribed almost illegible) “Fran de S^t-Etienne aqua-forti”; (left of centre) “GAZETTE DES BEAUX ARTS”; (centre) “FORMENTERA (Iles Baléares.)”

Sanchez and Seydoux 12 (Pierre Sanchez & Xavier Seydoux 1860/1998, “Les Estampes de la Gazette des Beaux-Arts (1859–1933)”, Paris, L'echelle de Jacob, p. 29, cat. no. 12 [see https://archive.org/details/lesestampesdelag0000sanc).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a very good condition.

I am selling this lightly drawn etching capturing the sparkling light and simple beauty of the smallest of the Balearic Islands—a half-hour by boat from Ibiza Town—for AU$242 in total (currently US$152.45/EUR155.02/GBP135.04 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 etching of a light-filled paradise, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Francisque de Saint-Étienne’s etching, “Fastigiate Trees with an Arch in the Middle Distance”, c1850

Francisque de Saint-Étienne (aka Francisc de Saint-Étienne; Louis Francisc Hippolyte Bessodes de Roquefeuille; Francisque Bessodes de Saint-Étienne) (1824–1885)

“Fastigiate Trees with an Arch in the Middle Distance” (descriptive title only), c1850, printed by Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907) in Paris.

Etching with pale plate tone on heavy wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 34.3 x 25.3 cm; (plate) 20.6 x 13.4 cm; (image borderline) 20.2 x 13 cm.

Inscribed (almost illegible) in plate below the image borderline: (left) “[…] Aug Delatre F […]”

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (no image on website):

“Landscape with tall trees in the foreground, and in the background, left, an arch” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-1209-816).

Condition: a near faultless impression in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this beautifully rendered landscape—note the freshness of the linework and close observation of the trees that (to my eyes) exemplifies the spirit of the Barbizon movement—for AU$212 (currently US$158.07/EUR133.36/GBP114.07at the time of 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 superb etching that is seldom seen on the art market, 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