Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). The Sleeping Lion. Lying in picturesquely rare position with raised fore paws on overgrown rock plateau on the back to the front with the jaws open wide, granting a marvelous look up to the additional breathing holes in the palate. Etching + engraving. Inscribed: Joh. El. Ridinger del. sculps. et exc. Aug. Vind., otherwise in Latin-German as above and below. 26.8 x 25.2 cm.
Thienemann + Schwarz 521. – The pictorially uncommon, very appealing fifth sheet of the above archlike rounded 6 or 8-sheet resp. set of the Lions, adequate in impression + wide margins: 6-9.5 cm above and below, laterally 3 cm with patina-like slight age toning.
Leo dormiens. / Cervicem inflexam posuit, jacuitque per antrum / Immensum, saniem eructans. Virgil IV. Aeneid. – The Sleeping Lion. / He raises from the liar, and lies down in the field / A light sleep invigorates his limbs for the attack.
Offer no. 15,016 / EUR 365. / export price EUR 347. (c. US$ 488.) + shipping
„ Habe heute Ihre Sendung dankend erhalten. Freue mich schon, das Buch meinem Mann … zu Weihnachten zu schenken. Liebe Grüße aus … am Dachstein “
(Frau K. G., 12. September 2007)