Frank Short, “Lucerne”, 1896, after Turner

Frank Short (aka Sir Frank Short) (1857–1945)

“Lucerne” (aka “Moonlight on the River” [BM title]), 1896, mezzotint, pencil-signed by the artist, after an unpublished drawing in the collection of the National Gallery (Henry Vaughan Bequest) by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) for the “Liber Studiorum”.

Mezzotint printed in sanguine coloured ink, pencil-signed, on laid paper with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 28.9 x 42.7cm; (plate) 21.7 x 29cm; (image borderline) 21.2 x 28.3cm

Inscribed with the artist’s monogram within the image borderline: (lower right corner). “S” (on shield).

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Drawn by J.M.W.Turner R.A.”; (centre) “LUCERNE From an Unpublished Drawing for the Liber Studiorum in possession of Henry Vaughan Esq”; (right) “Engraved by F. Short 1896.”

Published lettered state with the artist’s monogram.

Hardie 42 (Martin Hardie 1938, “The Liber Studiorium Mezzotints of Sir Frank Short after J.M.W. Turner, R.A.”, London, The Print Collector’s Club, pp. 73-4, cat. no. 42).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “The sky with moon above dominates image; to left and right on the banks of a river, a town, connected by a bridge; in the foreground, a crowd and boats, right of centre. 1896/ Mezzotint” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1901-0424-13 [BM inv. no. 1901,0424.13]).

Condition: a well-printed impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains—note, however, that the low edge is darkened and there are pencil notations along this lower edge.

I am selling this pencil-signed, moonlit scene executed in glowing mezzotint showing the famous wooden footbridge—the Kapellbrücke or Chapel Bridge—spanning the river Reuss in Lucerne (Switzerland), for AU$397 (currently US$257.52/ EUR244.13/ GBP203.38 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$397) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this very rare mezzotint with the interesting note in Hardie’s catalogue raisonné (1938) by W.G. Rawlinson that Turner’s drawing that this print reproduces is “very slight in its execution” and may be one of the last drawings “made by Turner for the Liber [Studiorium]” (see p. 73), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

David Lucas, “A Sea Beach”, 1830, after John Constable

David Lucas (1802–1881)

“A Sea Beach” (aka “A Seabeach” [as titled in the plate]), 1830, mezzotint after an oil sketch dated c.1824 by John Constable (1776–1837), from a series of mezzotints published by John Constable, described by the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum as “one of the most important series of mezzotints ever to be published”, “English Landscape” (aka “Various Subjects of English Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, from Pictures Painted by John Constable, R.A.”); see a description of this series offered by the V&A: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1357423/a-seabeach-print-constable-john-ra/.

Note that this impression is from the rare first edition published by John Constable in 1830 (as lettered in plate below the title) before the more common Bohn edition published in 1855.

Mezzotint on laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.9 x 25.3 cm; (image borderline) 14 x 22 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Painted by John Constable.”; (centre) “A SEABEACH./London Pub^d. by M^r. Constable. 35. Charlotte S^t. Fitzroy Square.1830.”; (right) Engraved by David Lucas.”

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains, trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this masterwork of mezzotint that the V&A explains was designed by Constable (along with the other 21 mezzotints in the series) “to highlight nature’s guiding principle of chiaroscuro showing the influence of light and shadow upon landscape” (op. cit.), for AU$346 in total (currently US$236.81/EUR214.6/GBP180.05 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$346) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and important mezzotint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Johann Elias Haid’s mezzotint, “Voltaire”, 1783, after Barbié, Houdon and Gravelot

(Attributed to) Johann Elias Haid (1736–1809)—attribution by the Rijksmuseum (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.120687) and Ch. LeBlanc (cat. no. 108)

“Voltaire”—an influential French writer, wit and philosopher (aka François Marie Arouet) (1694-1778), 1783, mezzotint published in Augsburg by Johann Jakob Haid (1704-1767), after the etching in the reverse direction, “M. F. A. de Voltaire Mort à Paris...”, by Jacques Barbié (fl.c1755–1779) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1868-0822-7757), after the sculpture of Voltaire by Jean Antoine Houdon (1741–1828) and after the battle scene drawing, “Il monte: il a déjà de ses mains triomphantes..”, by Gravelot (aka Hubert François Bourguignon Gravelot) (1699–1773) (see https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.58344.html). Note that Augustin de Saint-Aubin (1736–1807) made a similar print sixteen years after this mezzotint, but in the reverse direction and without the battle scene (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1900-1231-199).

Mezzotint with etching printed in a brown-black ink on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the image borderline with loss of publication details and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 21.5 x 13.4 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the battle scene: “Il monte, il a déj[à] de ses mains triomphantes,/ Arboré de ses lys les Enseignes Flotantes. Henriade Ch. VI” ([transl.] He ascends, he already has with his triumphant hands, / Emblazoned with his lilies the Floating Ensigns. Henriade Ch. VI).

LeBlanc 108 (Ch. Leblanc 1888, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire par J.Ch. Brunet”, vol. 2, Paris, p. 334, cat. no. 108).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Portrait of Voltaire, head and shoulder in profile to left, nude, and wearing no wig, in oval frame surmounting a scene from ‘L'Henriade’ showing Henri IV victorious at the siege of Paris (canto VI). 1783/ Mezzotint” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1901-1022-939).

Condition: a strong impression trimmed around the image borderline with no tears, holes or folds or significant stains and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this visually eye-catching portrait of the great writer of the French Enlightenment accompanied by an illustration to a few lines from his epic poem “La Henriade” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henriade), for AU$257 in total (currently/approximately US$174.40/EUR159.86/GBP134.26 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$257) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this very fine and beautiful mezzotint, 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

Johann Christian Rugendas’ mezzotint and etching, “Horses in Pasture”, c.1740, after Georg Philipp Rugendas

Johann Christian Rugendas (1708–1781)

“Horses in Pasture”, c.1740, plate 26 from the series of 69 plates, "Horsemen, Horses and Battles" (Ruiters, Paarden en Veldslagen), published by Johann Christian Rugendas in Augsburg, after a painting of the same composition executed in 1705 by his father, Georg Philipp Rugendas I (1666–1742), possibly showing a scene in Augusto, Turkey.

Etching and mezzotint printed from two plates in ochre and black ink on laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13 x 18.1 cm; (plate) 11.8 x 17.2 cm; (image borderline) 10.2 x 16.7 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “G. P. Rugendas A.1705. die 26. gbre. pinx. et del. Augustæ.”; (centre) “t. 1.”; (right) “Christian Rugendas Sculpsit et excud. Aug. Vind.”

Teuscher 631 (Andrea Teuscher 1998, “Die Künstlerfamilie Rugendas 1666-1858; Werkverzeichnis zur Druckgraphik”, Augsburg, Wißner, p. 160, cat. no. 631).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with a small margin around the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond minor surface marks outside the image borderline, the sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this small and jewel-like mezzotint showing bucking horses portrayed in a somewhat theatrical (chiaroscuro) light, for the total price of AU$258 (currently US$172.45/EUR156.03/GBP137.35 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this glowing twilight scene with horses, executed in the delicate medium of mezzotint by the son of the great master of the technique and arguably the foremost battle scene painter of the 17th century, Georg Philipp Rugendas I, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Johann Elias Ridinger’s mezzotint, “S. Antonius de Padua”, c.1740

(attrib.) Johann Elias Ridinger (aka Johann Elias Riedinger) (1698–1767)

“S. Antonius de Padua” (aka “St Anthony of Padua”; “St Antoine” [Le Blanc title]), c.1740.

Mezzotint on fine laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 56 x 41.8 cm; (plate) 54.4 x 40.3 cm.

Lettered below the image borderline: (centre) “S. ANTONIUS DE PADUA”.

LeBlanc 954 (Charles Le Blanc 1888, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 3, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 333, cat. no. 954); Schwarz 1533 (Ignaz Schwarz 1910, “Katalog einer Ridinger-Sammlung” [2 vols.] Vienna, cat. no. 1533).

See also the descriptions of this print offered by the Wellcome collection and Grosvenor Prints: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/kby6aa5t and https://www.grosvenorprints.com/stock_detail.php?ref=28372.  

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression, with restored printer’s creases. The sheet is in a superb (museum quality) condition for its size and considerable age with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing and has been laid onto a support of archival paper.

I am selling this exceptionally rare and large etching in an amazing state of preservation, showing the Portuguese friar—St Anthony/Antonius of Padua (aka Ferdinand Martin Bulhom) (1195–1231)—worshipping the infant Christ with the saint’s devotion symbolised by his hands resting on the Bible and a flowering lily, for AU$430 (currently US$287.41/EUR260.05/GBP228.92 at 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 amazingly fine mezzotint of a saint who was also a friend and disciple of St Francis of Assisi and who (according to the British Museum’s biographical details for this saint) even had: “fish rising out of the water to hear him preach, a mule kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament as the saint carried it past, the discovery of a miser's heart in his treasure chest, the restoration of the leg of a young man who had cut it off in remorse for having kicked his mother” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG115509), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.