REMBRANDT ETCHING (DURAND) THE BLIND FIDDLER - EARLY, FOLIO, WATERMARKED PAPER

Description: 19th CENTURY HELIOGRAVURE RE-WORK BY CHARLES AMAND-DURAND (1831-1905) OF REMBRANDT'S 1631 ETCHING "THE BLIND FIDDLER AND HIS DOG" [Generally classified as Bartsch 138, Hollstein 138.] * The Curator of the British Museum notes that there are no less than 7 states of this print known - but that only the first three were made by Rembrandt personally. Durand's recreation was taken from the first or second state, and is therefore a very useful reference point to the early original version, before it was subsequently modified by others. From a rare early portfolio-size edition of the Rembrandt etchings published by Durand and Georges Duplessis, therefore although a small etching, it was printed on a large folio-size sheet of early "laid", watermarked paper. This pre-dates editions published in smaller book form which appeared in the 1880s onwards, when Durand's work "went viral" (to coin a modern phrase), became an industry, and major French book publishing houses became involved. Very scarce. CONDITION & TECHNICAL: Very good/excellent condition. No problems at all. Very well printed on thick "laid", chainlined paper with a large manufacturer's watermark/filigrane (see my reverse photo at the end from the lightbox, which acts as a kind of X-Ray machine). The texture, structure and general "feel" is very similar - almost identical - to 18th century paper. Margins obviously intact, huge and wide, the platemark line is neat and clearly visible. A lovely sharp, evenly inked impression, pre-dates the editions which were published in quarto and large octavo size books from the 1880s onwards. Very rare to have the full sheet survive; most of the portfolio prints were trimmed down over the years. You will not find a better one - even at some of the eye-watering prices for these Rembrandt/Durands I see all over the internet! Rembrandt's cipher/signature and date 1631 can be seen below the image at bottom centre. Size of the central image is small, 78 x 53 millimetres. Total size of the folio sheet is a large 460 mm. x 315 mm. so obviously there are huge wide margins for matting/framing should you wish to do so. Online reference: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: RP-P-1962-62 British Museum: 1848, 0911.67 and F,5.86 for a later impression.(other major museums should also have it) LIterature:Bartsch 138Hollstein Dutch 138New Hollstein Dutch and Flemish (Rembrandt text) 77-7etc. etc. Context: Charles Amand Durand developed the revolutionary process of heliogravure in the 1860s. This was much admired by Georges Duplessis (1834-1899), Curator of the Prints Department of the National Library in Paris. The two men decided to collaborate on a lengthy project to re-create some of the Old Master prints in the French collection, particularly the etchings of Rembrandt; Duplessis provided the originals, early states, and Durand used them to meticulously recreate them by his heliogravure process. The project proved so popular that subsequent editions in varying sizes were printed in France from about 1880 onwards. The output became massive. The printing continued after Durand's death in 1905, when the plates were acquired by the Dominique Vincent Company - they, and their successors, continued to print them until 1958, albeit rather worn, ill-defined and on "modern" paper. That is why the 19th century Durands on early paper are much sought after, the particularly early ones - like this on offer here - even more so. SHIPPING: Via Tracked/Signed For service of Royal Mail, both for UK and overseas, for everybody's peace of mind. ***I can combine shipping costs for you should you wish to purchase more than one item***

Price: 115 GBP

Location: Wadhurst

End Time: 2024-11-18T12:10:38.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15.59 GBP