Dramatic Scene – Crackling Atmosphere
Finest of the Finest
among the Drawings by Ridinger
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). A Lynx by the Turnpike. Moonlit rocky grotto with the lynx just ready to leap at the dead bird hanging at the cord. Washed brush drawing and pen and brown ink over graphite. 213 x 346 mm.
On thin hand-made paper with typographic watermark. – On the back marginal marks of former mounting in points. Three repaired small marginal tears. Apart from that in perfect condition.
The fully executed drawing of origin
in the same direction, thus before its side-inverted version for the transfer on the plate, as preparatory for print 8 – Th. + Schwarz 76; Ridinger-Catalog Darmstadt, 1999, V.11 with ills. – of the 1750 set of the etchings (in mixed technique with engraving) of the Ways to capture the Wild Animals. And by this
a quite exceptionally elitist collection item .
For Thienemann (1856, page 274, c) knew from this “most interesting work containing 28 (recte 30) fine and peculiar sheets” (Nagler 1843) drawn by Ridinger from life and etched/engraved by himself with the exception of 8 ones only 3 other preparatory drawings in the possession of Weigel. Provable besides the one in question and a still available further one (Spring-Gun on a Bear) seven others, of which four had been handed over here in pairs into an internationally magnificent private and important German Ridinger collection resp.
This first-rate 9-sheet block of the Ways to Capture, 7 or 8 of which in the direction of the print, origins from the “Group of the Painterlies” of that high-carat Westphalian collection by whose dissolution lasting for more than a decade beside i. a. sketches and proofs quite a number of of quite extraordinary drawn uniquenesses found back onto the market, too, whose extraordinary charm is determined by their wash. The technique the master knew to win the whole plenty of painterly light effects and contrasting. These
“ Pen drawing(s) with ink and sepia (recte bistre)
brought to effect masterly ”
(so F. A. C. Prestel to pos. 71 of the 1879 Catalog of Marschall von Bieberstein’s Collection of Drawings with its rich Ridinger passages combined in 59 lots, among them the thought one from 1743 as the one and only of this combination) form the distinguished
Group of the Painterlies
running, now inscribed, then remained unmarked, through the œuvre since the early 1720s in nevertheless obviously only most scarce examples representing like the watercolors and gouaches
a group of drawn rarissima on their own .
And, as said, unchanged fresh and not became discolored and in such a way admirable in the sense of George Keyes by example of Samuel van Hoogstraten’s (1627-1678) lavished John the Baptist in Prison of the Rudolf Collection (Introduction to part I of the catalog, 1977, regarding part II, 95 of the same year). And applicable to Ridinger, too:
“ (He) applies washes with a virtuosity and bravura
which add a wonderful aura to the subject .
His expressive intensity is as apparent today as when he executed this drawing … The number of wash drawings by Rembrandt and his pupils that are as fresh and vibrant as this one is pitifully small .”
Offer no. 15,675 / price on application
„ Sie haben wieder einmal in unverkennbarer Weise Ihr Unternehmen und Ihre Philosophie dargeboten. Ich wünsche Ihnen – beiden – auch in diesem Jahr viel Erfolg und Gefolgschaft von Ihren alten und hoffentlich auch neuen Kunden und natürlich auch persönliches Wohlergehen … “
(Herr D. L., 4. Januar 2010)