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 therewitth 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) , R. catalogue Helbing (1900; 1554 nos.) , Horn Collection (1903; “The engravings and mezzotints described by Thienemann and Stillfried were present nearly 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

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 strip below – in the 18^th century “mostly as blanc strip with integrated middle 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 17^th century to the classicism of the late 18^th century. By him

Augsburg  became  a  leading  center  of  arts

in the southern area … until the beginning of the 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  nearly  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 larger 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  un-touched , 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 request