GRABADOS ARENBERG 19.10.2019

Gravures anciennes – Oude prenten
261 [Flemish]
WIERIX, Johannes. After Albrecht DÜRER - Melancolia I.
1514 [1602].
Engraving, 18,7 x 23,7 cm, lettered on image ‘MELENCOLIA I’, signed with
Dürer’s monogram and dated ‘1514’ bottom right, Wierix’ signature is as often
removed (trimmed outside the borderline). Stuck by upper corners under passepartout.
2.000 / 2.500 €
Excellent copy made by Wierix in 1602 of Dürer’s fabulous allegorical
representation of the melancholic temperament as a woman wearing a
wreath seated amongst a bell, an hourglass, scales, a magic square, carpentry
tools and a sphere. Without the filling between «Melancolia» and «I» and
without the correction of the numbers characterising Dürer’s second state,
all typical for Wierix’ edition although his signature was -as often is the caseremoved.
Ref. Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1556. - Hollstein (German) VII: 75.
264 [French]
BOISSIEU, Jean-Jacques de. After Karel DUJARDIN - «Les
petits charlatans». 1772.
Etching and drypoint, 25,5 x 33 cm, signed and dated in pl.: «J.J.D.B., 1772» and
«K. du Jardin, 1687» (sl. toned, sm. tear with loss of image upper right corner,
trimmed at framing lines with small lower text margin). Under gilt passe-partout,
under glass and gilt frame, not studied outside frame (sm. def. at frame).
150 / 200 €
262 [Flemish]
WIERIX, Johannes. After Albrecht DÜRER - The knight, death
and the devil. Antwerp, 1564.
Engraving, 24,1 x 18,5 cm, laid paper, signed and dated in plate «AE 15» (trimmed
sl.short, within the borderline). Stuck by upper corners under passe-partout. Fine,
dark and uniform impression.
1.000 / 1.200 €
Countryfolk gathered before a makeshift stage where three men dressed as
characters from the Commedia dell’arte are either trying to sell some medicine,
or they are mocking the tradition of itinerant quack doctors. One of the men,
dressed in white and wearing a mask, sits in front of the stage and plucks a string
instrument; his companion, a man dressed in black, stands on the tip of his toes on
the stage; behind him hangs a poster representing a nobleman holding a jar of the
concoction; a third man peeks from behind a curtain. Roman ruins in background.
Lettered below image: «gravé d’après Le Tableau de Karle du jardin tiré du Cabinet
de Monseiur Blondel de Gagny / Receveur general Des Finances». The painting in
question was in the collection of Blondel de Gagny; after the latter’s death (1776)
it was bought by Blondel Dazincourt, and then by Louis XVI in 1783. It is now in the
Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv.no.1394). 4th state (of 6).
Ref. Perez 63.VIII - Inv. Fonds Français 63.
A reverse copy of Wierix of Dürer’s most famous print, part of the so-called
«Meisterstiche». The print is a reflection on the vanities and temporality of life.
Ref. Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1484. - New Hollstein (The Wierix family) VII:1996
263 [French]
4 Ornament prints. 16th c.
Etchings, 11 x 9,5 cm (plate mark), laid paper, wide margins, unsigned, numbered
in pl. Stuck on paper by upper edge.
150 / 200 €
Very rare late 16th-century ornament prints with designs for portals and
decorative hangers composed from mythological creatures such as centaurs,
mermaids and dolphins. Stylistically related to similar designs by the famous
French architect and designer Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau (1515-1585) or the
school of Fontainebleau. Part of a larger series, nos. 3-6.
Joined: 5 small ornament prints with floral motives, approx. 9 x 4 cm., glued on
mod. paper, French, 17th c. (6 pcs)
265 [French]
BONNET, Louis-Marin. After Jean-Baptiste LE PRINCE -
Russian lady. Paris, c. 1762-1776.
Crayon-manner printed in red and black, 29,5 x 20,5 cm (browned around the
edges affecting the image, sm. brown stains in centre). Stuck under passe-partout,
under wooden gilt frame, descriptive label on verso (flaking paint, several sm. def.
at frame, not studied outside frame).
120 / 150 €
A rare rococo print with a Russian lady at a reading table. The print is made to
imitate the drawing by Le Prince (1734-1781).
266 [French]
BOUZONNET STELLA, Claudine. After Jacques STELLA -
Les jeux et plaisris [sic] de l’enfance. Paris, [Claudine Bouzonnet
Stella], 1657 [1637].
8vo oblong: 48 engravings (some foxing, lack of paper on a2 and c7). 18th or
early 19th c. half sheep, sprinkled paper covers (edges and corners bumped, a few
stains and repairs).
1.000 / 1.500 €
Series of 48 engr. depicting traditional children’s games by Claudine Bouzonnet
Stella (1641-1697), niece of Jacques Stella and considered to be one of the
most excellent engravers of the 17th c. Exceptional edition without any page
numbering but with a complete list of signatures from a1 to f8, or 48 pl. in
total. Compared to the numbered edition described by Weigert, our copy has
neither a coat of arms, nor the pl. 2 «Le Dada» and pl. 27 «La Paume». One of
the 2 pl. named «Le Sabot» by Weigert is entitled «Le volant». Also, the order of
ARENBERG AUCTIONS • 19.10.2019 • 85