Before the Background of
what makes for Jerusalem’s Immortalness
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). In manus tuas com(m)endo Spiritum meum et hæc dicens expiravit. Luc. 23. Christ left alone in his hour of Good Friday darkened by clouds and looking up to the right, at its foot
death’s-head + bones , persisting hissing snake + tempting apple
as referring company. Broadly situated behind the Temple Mount with adjoining locality laterally left. Mezzotint. Inscribed: I. N. R. I. at the top of the cross / I. El. Ridinger excud. A. V., otherwise as above. 51.7 x 39.2 cm.
Provenance
Counts Faber-Castell
their Ridinger sale 1958
with its lot no. 136
on the underlay carton
Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen
(1922-2004)
Thienemann-Stillfried (1876) + Schwarz (1910) 1408; Faber-Castell 136; Wend, (Additions to the Definitive Catalogues of Prints), I/1 (1975), 153.
Not in Thienemann (1856) , Weigel, Art Stock Catalogue, division I-XXVIII (1838/57; more than 1000 R. sheets of the etched/engraved work) , Silesian Ridinger Collection at Boerner (1885; “of greatest richness … many rarities”) , Coppenrath Collection (1889/90) , Reich auf Biehla Collection (1894; “Of all [R. collections on the market] since long time there is none standing comparison even approximately with the present one in respect of completeness and qualtiy … especially the rarities and undescribed sheets present in great number”) , Gg. Hamminger (1895) , Helbing XXXIV (Works by J. E. and M. E. Ridinger, 1554 items, 1900) , Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).
Fine black impression rich in contrast – nuance-rich the light falling in from above – with WANGEN watermark as standing for contemporary impressions with margins of 7-10 mm running around. In the left half, optically disguised by the mezzotint technique, slightly waved and generally spotted as little perceptible in the subject. A throughout fine general impression maintained though.
“ The mezzotints are almost not available in the trade anymore
… all worked by and after Joh. El. Ridinger (are) that rare that they are to be found almost only in some public, grand print rooms. I have come across most of the described ones only in the famous print room at Dresden … ”
(Thienemann, 1856!, pages VIII + 270).
A situation also possible new editions could change little as according to the expert Sandrart (1675) the technically conditioned extremely fast wearing off mezzotint plate only permits 50-60 good impressions.
Here then the copy Counts Faber-Castell
as one of Ridinger’s nine crucifixions in their again and again varying fascination of the event.
Offer no. 14,863 / EUR 890. / export price EUR 846. (c. US$ 1151.) + shipping
“ Pursuant to your last kind e-mail, I am placing my personal check in the amount of US$ … in the mail today. When it arrive, please send the print … It has been a pleasure dealing with you ”
(Mr. + Mrs. R. G. S., October 30, 2002)