The Annunciation
The Initial Event for the New Testament
Greetings , favored one !
And look, now , you will give birth to a son you must call his name Jesus .
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1688 – Augsburg 1762). The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Archangel Gabriel with rich retinue appearing to Our Lady sitting with an open book at a table before a tent, pointing to the Holy Spirit – the dove – by which Mary is enlightened (St. Luke 1, 26-37). The beam of enlightment enlarged with the IHS. Mary with glory of nine stars as symbol of pregnancy. On the right archway, below walls with vault and steps. The angels with, i. a., rosary, ring, and iris as the signs of later assumption. Mezzotint by surely Johann Jacob Ridinger (1736 Augsburg 1784) after Johann Georg Bergmüller. Inscribed in italics lower left: Joh. Georg Bergmiler pinxit / Joh. Elias Ridinger excud. 63 x 44.7 cm.
Schwarz (1910) 1516 (but not acquired along with the Horn collection in 1903, see below); Wend (1975), Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, 1,1, 173 with reference to Schwarz.
Not in Weigel, Art Stock Catalogue, division I-XXVIII (1838/57; more than 1000 R. sheets of the etched/engraved work) , Thienemann (and therewith not in the Dresden Printroom, too; 1856) + Count Stillfried (1876) , Silesian Ridinger Collection at Boerner (1885; “of greatest richness … many rarities”) , Coppenrath Collection (1889/90) , R. collection at Wawra (1890; besides 234 drawings 600 prints) , 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”; 1266 sheets plus 470 doubles + 20 drawings) , Gg. Hamminger (1895) , R. catalogue Helbing (1900; 1554 nos.) , Horn Collection (1903; “The engravings and mezzotints described by Thienemann and Stillfried were present almost completely with few exceptions. Besides the collection counted a series of sheets undescribed hitherto: in addition to 4 and 6 engravings resp. a large number of mezzotints”) , R. list Rosenthal (1940; 444 nos.), collection of the counts of Faber-Castell (1958; 106 drawings + 1160 prints).
The pendant to Ridinger’s Adoration of the Shepherds Schwarz 1486 seamlessly fitting in
its pictorial density
and baroque grandeur
and surely leading a uniform Ridinger-Bergmüller chain of events with furthermore an Adoration of the Kings (1406) and the Flight into Egypt (1482). All in the practically same size and
presenting themselves as specially worked pictures for the wall ,
therefore without so-called thesis banner below – in the 18th century “mostly as blank banner with integrated center cartouche” (Teuscher in Die Künstlerfamilie Rugendas 1666-1858, p. 295) – for individual inscription on special occasions as the rule for the Saints sheets as marks of their designation as art for daily use.
Bergmüller (Türkheim 1688 – Augsburg 1762) is known to the Ridinger collector especially by his portrait of Ridinger with Diana worked in mezzotint by Johann Jacob Haid Th. XX, 2. Generally an estimated portrait painter he also worked – as episcopal cabinet painter – history pictures and frescos of mostly spiritual content. Among the latter Thieme-Becker mention four ceiling frescos on the life of Our Lady in the Pollheim chapel of the cathedral at Augsburg and a cyclus in 17 parts on the Passion in the Kreuzkirche.
“ As fresco-painter Bergmüller throws the bridge from the romanicism of the 17th century to the classicism of the late 18th century. By him
Augsburg became a leading center of arts
in the southern area … until the early twenties mostly engaged as painter (high altar) … In his mature work voluminous plastic figures are acting … ”
(Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon IX [1994], 417).
Became known only by the collecting activity of Baron Gutmann (catalogue Schwarz) the group of more than 120 mezzotints with religious contents reveals
the almost unknown Ridinger of faith
(since 1757 assessor at the matrimonial court of the Augsburg confession). First opening up these as an important aspect of the work of Ridinger was – according to our present knowledge – Th. Reich auf Biehla, whose rich Ridinger collection contained at its sale in 1894 already 31 pictures of saints, qualified without exemption as
“very rare” + “extremely rare” .
Which rareness is already technically conditioned by the tinted plate allowing, so the expert von Sandrart 1675, just about “50 or 60 clean prints. Afterwards (the picture) soon grinds off”. Correspondingly then also Thienemann (1856; pp. VIII + 270) :
“ The mezzotints are almost not to be acquired in the trade anymore …
and the by far largest part (of them) … (I have) only found (in the printroom) at Dresden.”
Not even there then the one here which subsequently remained unknown not only to himself, but also to Count Stillfried and all the others. Available now here moreover
in greatest perfection
as widely so unobtainable for even just most ambitious collectors. Raised enormously as
an item next to impossible !
A “Holy Virgin with a ten-star halo reading in a book” as half-length figure worked as thesis sheet with cartouche and the inscription S. MARIAE MATER AMABILIS in the Silesian collection above (no. 2038, 57 x 41 cm).
With watermarks WANGEN + crown with appendix FAvI (ligated) as known for excellent early Ridinger states and mounted at five points on heavy handmade paper with typographic two-liner watermark. – On the lower left trimmed almost to the platemark, otherwise with fine margins of up to 2 mm and
of almost untouched , best preserved freshness
and in such a way not only a Ridinger unknown to most, but also and at all
a Ridinger which to miss would leave you poor .
Offer no. 15,261 / price on application
“ Thank you so much for your great packing and prompt service. I look forward to do more business with you in the future. Warmest regards, ”
(Mr. J. G., February 21, 2003)