In every Aspect a Trouvaille by the Master ,
here after Boucher
Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). The Foolish Jealousy. / Zelotypia stolida. Posing as shepherd the young gallant confesses his love to his shepherdess, overheard by a young shepherd. On both sides sheep + lambs. Mezzotint (after François Boucher, 1703 Paris 1770). Inscribed: Joh. El. Ridinger exc. Aug. Vind., otherwise as above. 42.3 x 54.3 cm.
Schwarz 1461 with plate vol. 2, XX (variant).
Deviating from Schwarz
The earlier state here
Not in Thienemann (1856) + Stillfried (1876) , Weigel, Art Stock Catalogue, pts. I-XXVIII (1838/57; more than 1000 R.-sheets of the engraved/etched work) , 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 quality … especially the rarities and undescribed sheets present in great number”; 1266 sheets plus 470 doubles + 20 drawings) , Hamminger Collection (1895) , R. catalogue Helbing (1900; 1554 nos.) , R. list Rosenthal (1940; 444 nos.).
Typographic watermark. – With quatrain in German-Latin parallel text:
“ The envier eavesdrops on the faithful shepherd’s luck,
Why his malicious eyes reflects poison and grievance?
He just tortures himself, and that may only laugh,
Could he only, as he wishes, complete his luck. ”
Wonderful large sheet ,
besides the one of von Gutmann here only provable with the copy Counts Faber-Castell (1958, no. 156; creased and trimmed to the image) for which for lack of an illustration marks of state cannot be compared. Here now with extremely wide margins and only a centerfold invisible from the front. The wide white lower margin fissured and backed acid-freely. Independent of this contrary to Gutmann’s copy in a
deviating earlier state.
Of greatest rareness as the precious art of mezzotint only allows editions of about “50 or 60 clean copies, afterwards (the image) grinds itself off very soon” (Sandrart 1675). Accordingly Thienemann noted in 1856:
“ The mezzotints are almost not available on the market anymore. By the way all mezzotints worked by and after Joh. El. Ridinger are that rare that they are to be found almost only in some of the magnificent public print rooms. I met most of the described ones only in the famous Cabinet in Dresden …”
Shortly :
The whole delicacy of the mezzotint technique –
here you have it .
That in the case here as outstanding additional factor of rareness truly superbly wide margins of 9.2-10.2 on the sides and 4.8 and 5.5 cm resp. on top and bottom are added, is then just the last non-plus-ultra delighting the pretentious collector. Here thus
the rarity as such – the significantly deviating early impression –
wonderful chiaroscuro + enormous margins .
And as already in Shepherds’ Life and Captivity engraved in opposite direction after Boucher’s ( “Main master of rococo”, Jahn ) “Les amours pastorales” in the print by Gaillard.
Offer no. 28,107 / EUR 1380. / export price EUR 1311. (c. US$ 1786.) + shipping
“ Just received the James Figg item safely today. I have a couple questions. Art in general is new to me so I‘m asking you to educate me on this item … First of all I‘m happy with the item, just trying to understand it better … Thanks again ”
(Mr. A. C., March 27, 2008)