Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). S. Caecilia. Three-quarter figure of Saint Cecilia, looking at the beholder, in rich garment and turban-like head-dress, here with the harp as rarer attribute, adorned with martyr’s palm leaf + the head of an angel. Beside her a nearly unclothed sympathetic young angel reading the notes. Mezzotint engraving. Inscribed: Ioh. El. Ridinger excud. A. V., otherwise as before inside of a large shell-cartouche in the lower margin. 51.2 x 38.8 cm.

Stillfried (1876) 1420. – Not in Thienemann (1856) and with the exception of the Counts of Faber-Castell (1958) here not provable elsewhere, too. – Size variant unknown to Schwarz (1910) who lists per same number 1420 Baron Gutmann’s copy in the size of 61.5 x 38.8 cm thinking Count Stillfried’s specification could be incorrect. – Per corner mounting by old hand laid on especially wide-margined heavy hand-made paper. – Partly with a little margin, otherwise trimmed to platemark.

The  rich  sheet  in  rarer  composition

in the excellent copy concerning printing and conservation of a cultivated collection perfectly brighting in all parts. And in such a manner of quite extraordinary rarity not only on the market as quoted above, but in general, too. Already in 1675 the expert von Sandrart numbered “clean prints” of the velvety mezzotint manner at only c. “50 or 60” (!). “Soon after (the picture) grinds off for it not goes deeply into the copper.” Correspondingly Thienemann in 1856 :

“ The mezzotints are neraly not to be acquired on the market 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 described only 20 years later by Stillfried for the first time!

Having been made to the inventor of the organ by the legend the 22^nd November is the day of the ritual remembrance of this noble Roman of the 3^rd century. But for the full year and for all she is the patroness of music, in particular of sacred music.

And therewith belonging to that “exclusive communion of devine interveners – or, said Protestantly, devine representatives – ” which quite topically, though “already for a longer while, historians have rediscovered (for themselves) … (and) revived scientifically” (Peter Burschel reviewing Brad Stephan Gregory’s “Salvation at Stake – Christian Martyrdom in Early Modern Europe” in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of August 2, 2000).
Offer no. 28,402 / EUR  1738. / Export price EUR  1651. (c. US$ 2411.) + shipping

“ Many thanks for your message. Thank you very much for sending the (Anthonie) Waterloo … I am grateful to you for the opportunity to buy the etching. It was interesting to learn about its provenance … The Waterloo etching arrived safely today, beautifully wrapped. Thank you very much indeed ”

(Mr. M. L., April 24 and 29 resp. and May 6, 2003)