Once the “ Manchester of Syria ”
Homs (Hemss, Jadis Emèse) – Cassas, Louis François (Azay-le-Ferron, Indre, 1757 – Versailles 1827). Chateau et Portion de la Ville de Hemss (Jadis Emèse, Homs). The citadel of Homs on its high tell, with the city mainly extending to the left at its feet. Especially in front excited bustle around a spread scroll and a writer, if this is not the sketching artist himself in national costume. Engraving by Simon Charles Miger (Paris 1747 – 1805). (1799.) Inscribed: Dessiné par L. F. Cassas. / Gravé par S. C. Miger. 29.4 x 44.3 cm.
Rich sheet of fine chiaroscuro
in the printing state before the letter .
Miger, Graveur du Roy, “engraved and etched a considerable number of fine sheets, mostly after French masters” (Nagler). – Faint tidemark and some tiny backed tears in the untrimmed wide white margin.
“ C. already early found the themes and the technique which dominate the work and are the foundation of his success: With documentary accuracy, yet at the same time with a great antenna for decorative effects and atmosphere he creates views of landscapes and towns, their life, events, costumes, and national customs … Foremost in the center of the work the representation of important architecture, however. In the desire for completeness and exactness C. is quite a contemporary of the encyclopedists. Corresponding to the interests of the clients and the audience he directs his particular attention to the architecture of antiquity … With few exceptions … as a matter of principle C. proceeds from his personal view and therefore starts with sketches, studies and surveys on the spot. The actual means of his representation then is a special technique of the watercolor characteristic of him, partly in very large formats. He works with animated, often dramatically intensified chiaroscuro and rich coloring. Additionally he still enhances the line drawing by black pen stroke so that also the pictorial watercolors are of great exactness in detail and sometimes have the effect of colored prints. The realization of these motifs in print frequently is intended from the beginning and made for a great part of his success … In the train of the French ambassador Choiseul Gouffier C. goes on his most important journey to the Orient … It reveals to C. the whole fascination of the Oriental world. C. takes the opportunity to extend this journey and become acquainted with the whole region of the Levant … The journey is C.’s biggest professional experience, it takes place under partly highly adventurous circumstances and leads him up to Egypt … After the return C. elaborates the immense yield of his Oriental expedition in Rome, presents the first results to the public, and creates a considerable sensation ”
(Uwe Westfehling, Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon XVII, 1997, 131).
Offer no. 12,537 / EUR 699. / export price EUR 664. (c. US$ 903.) + shipping
“ The method you describe sounds excellent. Please proceed … ”
(Mr. J. R. C., September 16, 2003)