The Set that raises the Pulse
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). The Four Seasons of the Hunter. 4 sheet. Etchings with engraving in oval with hatching of the corners by Martin Elias Ridinger (1730 Augsburg 1780). Inscribed: Joh. El. Ridinger inv. del. et exc. Aug. Vind. / Mart. Elias Ridinger sculps. (l. 3: sculpsit), otherwise in German with sheet title + quatrain in German-Latin parallel text. 37.3-37.5 x 27.5 cm.
Thienemann + Schwarz 109-112; Weigel 16545
( “ old now only rarely found impressions ”, 1847 ! )
+ XXVIII, Ridinger, 11 A; Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX, 1794 (“Without platemark”, otherwise only per 1795 in “newer impressions”, 1885); Coppenrath Collection II, 1459 („Fine set, rare“, 1889); Reich auf Biehla Collection 19 (“Newer impressions”!, 1894); Helbing XXXIV, 251; Schwerdt III, 136 (“An attractive set”); Rosenthal 126, 26 (sheet 4 only); Catalogue Darmstadt, 1999, V.7 (sheet 1 only, with ills.). – Not in Nagler (1843) nor in Schoeller Collection (1921) + Catalogue Kielce (1997).
THE MARVELOUS , FIGURE-RICH SUITE
in adequately perfect copy
of shining chiaroscuro
“ Of rare beauty and evenness ”
as the one quoted by Helbing one hundred years ago. With a sheet size of 50.7 x 35 cm (Schwerdt: 53.7 x 36 cm). – Sheets 1 + 3 with typographic watermark. – The technical pinholes in the upper white outer margin closed.
“ Month and seasons of the year sets were usual since the 16th century. Also the connection of seasons with the periods of life were present since that time. Usually spring, summer and autumn are represented as rising development – from the bud to ripeness – , winter, however, as a period of decline. With depictions of life the winter corresponds to an old man. By the selection of the respective texts in his set of the Seasons of the Hunter Ridinger, however, gives a new interpretation to winter being productive for the hunt:
While in spring the hunter is ‘merry and industrious’, in summer ‘vigilant and determined’ and in autumn ‘courageous and brave’, the attributes
‘ persistent and bold ’
befit the hunter in winter. L. H. Niemeyer recently pointed out this peculiarity in a lecture ”
(Dr. Morét in Catalogue Darmstadt).
Correspondingly the winterly bag! And bear, wolf, lynx, and wild boar, full of anger noisily rages roars
“ it’s his boldness’ joy ”.
The oude man once turning his back to life here now in the fullness of his hunting. As an allegory of unbroken activity, perseverance and boldness. The passionate boldness as zenith, as the quintessence of what only results from skill and experience of a rich, here hunter’s life.
Known of sheet III a sidecorrect copy of about the same size, but without the subtext, from the early days of the wood engraving by Alexander Anderson (NYC 1775 – Jersey City/N 1870, “Father of the Wood Engraving”, AKL II, 853 f.) mentioned by literature as “Returning from the Boar Hunt”. See Jane R. Pomeroy, Alexander Anderson / Wood Engraver and Illustrator / An annotated Biography, 3 vols., 2005, no. 587 with ills. (“masterly, probably ca. 1820 or before” with incorrectly “Ridinger pinx”).
With intervals of 13 an 14 years resp. the set is available here apart now for the third time. On which occasion it should be noted in view of their being transferred to copper by Johann Elias’ eldest, Martin Elias, that his bearing for the Ridinger œuvre goes noticeably beyond a just engaged co-working as engraver not only according to findings here. Already as 30-years-old he almost acted as a spiritus rector behind the scene. Who ensured that sets were not stopped prematurely or published posthumously. And as Wolf Stubbe (Joh. El. Ridinger, Hamburg/Berlin 1966, pp. 16 f. + plt. 34), going into medias res, praises Th. 722, The Wild Bison and the Crocodile, from the Fights of Killing Animals in regard of the treatment of light as an artistic zenith of the late work he also pays, since judging on the basis of its engraving, not the drawing, reverence to Martin Elias as the etcher/engraver of that work. An aspect that increasingly elucidates the co-operation of the Ridingers and underscores the quality of the present set on its technical side, too.
Offer no. 14,657 / price on request
“ I wish to thank you for the detailed, knowledgeable response. I am very impressed with your experience; your information was very helpful ”
(Mr. R. H. P., July 25, 2005)