Rutting Season at Starnberg on the Lake
( near Munich )
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). A Herd of Red Deer in Moonlight (“Drawn from Nature near Starnberg on the Lake” near Munich). Stag of 16 points with his seraglio of 7 deer at the water in rutting season, answering a rival on the opposite bank. Lithograph printed with green tone plate by Hermann Menzler printed by A. Renaud for L. J. Heymann in Berlin. (1863-65.) Inscribed: Gez. v. J. E. Ridinger, lith. v. H. Mezler (sic!) etc., otherwise in German as above. 32.7 x 23.1 cm.
(Joh. El. Ridinger’s Hunting Album) II/9. – Comp. Thienemann 241. – From the “(Album of Interesting Hunt and Group Pictures)” carried as 2nd part. – The whole rare set almost unknown to literature and comprising 80 sheets plus a recently discovered illustrated title of far larger image size (47.5 x 36 cm), though practically to be completed just peu à peu. In the pictorial effect corresponding to that of the aquatint technique not used by Ridinger anymore. – On strong paper with the wide margins adjusted to the sheet size (62 x 47 cm) of the illustrated title. – Tiny tear in the left lateral margin backed acid-freely.
The marvellous Midnight sheet
after the set of the Four Daytimes of the Stags
with only minor deviations in the accessories compared with Ridinger, but with a completely independent sky reflecting a beautiful night instead of the dramatics of the original. And instead of the oval size there here in rectangle. By this thus a
very interesting collection enrichment worth acquiring all the more
as its locality could be investigated as top-notch here by means of the ink/chalk drawing
“ A landscape with a river (sic!), in front a stag and (7) hinds going downwards from the rock to the river. Inscribed: Drawn from nature at Starenberg on the Lake (near Munich). With the painter’s name … ”
from Ridinger’s estate of drawings (Weigel, 1869, no. 130).
The number of this group corresponds with that one placed above the water at the edge of the forest of Th. 293 –
“Anno 1736. drawn from nature in the forest near Stahrenberg ”–
only that its capital doesn’t suggest 16 points. And its four-headed second herd is, reduced by one, identical with that of the evening sheet of the Daytimes. By the way thematically surely belonging to the undiscribed drawing Weigel 169 “A Woodland with a Stag and ten standing and lying hinds; a rutting stag beyond a river doesn’t dare to come near”. – For the morning sheet of the Daytimes investigated here Nymphenburg (near Munich), see the complete set.
But finally also iconographically significant, for
“ Stags at the water in mountainous landscape hinted on the famous psalm 42.1 ‚So like the deer thirsts for fresh water, so my soul strives after thee, Lord‘ and became to the cipher for the ‚anima christiana‘ “
(Justus Müller-Hofstede on the occasion of the 1985 Cologne Savery exhibition).
Offer no. 13,110 / EUR 404. / export price EUR 384. (c. US$ 539.) + shipping
Presently available here :
Johann Elias Ridinger’s Hunting Album
77 (of 80) toned lithographs
in optically quite particular-fine garb
as well as
a rich selection of single sheets
“ I am curious as to the history of this (original Ridinger printing-)plate (just I bought) and the others you have offered. Did you purchase them from the Ridinger estate (indirectly, indeed) or a private collector? These are truly rare one of a kind pieces ”
(Mr. L. A. F., October 28, 2003)