Two
Ridingeriana
of a
Quite Particular Kind
As immense the master’s estate of drawings taken over by Weigel in 1830 presented itself at first, and as certainly the Augsburg pope received courtly sketches passed down already by Thienemann, as extremely rarely such are determined for sure. Be that after creation of own designs and their transfer into the copper they perished as dispensable, be that, and that supposedly more probable, because they were considered and passed as Ridinger’s own works. For so far as not established by particular characteristics, the records of the drawings with Thienemann (1856, drawing on Weigel’s inventory) and the latter himself (1869, Ridinger appendix to the Catalog of the (ultimately) Bequeathed Original Drawings) prove to be of little help. Not to be missed finally that frequently works stroke out on their own already early and only went on the record on occasion of their showing up in the catalogs of collectors and dealers.
Here and now then
2 of these
Ridingeriana Rarities of Degree
Karl Friderich Fürst Zu HohenzollernSigmaringen schiesset diesen Hirsch Von ohngeradt 18 endten in des fürstenbüchen faulbronnerforsts d 30t September 1773 so gewogen gantze 375 ℔ ausgeweydte 296 ℔ das ℔ á 40 loth (Charles Frederick Prince of HohenzollernSigmaringen shoots this Stag Of odd 18 points in the fürstenbüchen faulbronnerforsts the 30th September 1773 so weighed whole 375 ℔ eviscerated 296 ℔ the ℔ á 40 lot). Head & antlers along with indicated neck. Pencil drawing (c. 7⅛ × 5¼ in [180 × 135 mm]). (1773.) Inscribed: as above (bister) & below (pencil), each in German. 14¼ × 8⅝ in (361 × 220 mm).
“ this one wants all by itself —”
To the current opinion here the antlers design to Th. 353 – sheet 10 of the Incidents – sent by the princely court to the Ridingers for rendering in copper as a
Ridingeriana rarity of degree .
Verified in the case here at least its missing with Weigel and the authoritative collection records documented here from 1884 on as well as
its showing up in 1976 as original Ridinger drawing
in Tenner’s 110th sale together with the following further one (to Th. 254) as enclosure to lot 3948, a yet soon after dissolved sketchbook verified for Johann Elias Ridinger as evidenced by Christmas dedication of 1766 (from this double sketch to Th. 1076 here) with provenances Weigel, yet not (anymore) in above catalog of 1869, & Hamminger (1895, but without aforesaid two enclosures). Nevertheless the latter came from a good stable. For the Ridinger estate sold off along with them at Dr. Tenner’s in the 1970s through years was first-class. In respect of both drawings and prints.
Independently of the above in addition the print unsettles on its part. Worked as plate X of the 46-sheet set Accidens et Evenemens particuliers à la Chasse ( “The rarest set of Ridinger’s sporting line engravings”, so Schwerdt 1928) worked in copper exclusively by Johann Elias’ eldest, Martin Elias, after mostly his father’s designs and concluded posthumously in 1779, its inscription designates as draughtsman the father deceased 1767, yet its caption an event of 1773. So that inevitably, so already Thienemann, too, either the inscription or the date of the shot is incorrect.
Yet the truth may rest in the middle as well. To the effect that Martin Elias, known little as draughtsman, resorted to a design of his father’s and just updated its antlers. The stag itself after all no singular appearance and in its position related to those of as for instance Th. 294, 326, 339, 373. The mismatch of inscription & date would have gone unnoticed then initially. Be that as it may, as “belonging to the best in this collection” it forges its way, although missing in many places and qualified already 1885 (!) per Silesian R. collection at Boerner XXXIX, 1871 as “Very rare”.
For the purpose of comparison with the above caption of the drawing that of the print as follows:
“ KARL FRIDERICH FÜRST ZU HOHENZOLLERN STIGMARINGEN (sic!) Schießet diesen Hirsch von ohngerad 18. Enden in des Fürstenbüchen Faulbron(n)er Forsts d. 30. 7brs. 1773. so gewogen ganzer 375. ℔ ausgeweyder 296 ℔ daß ℔ à 40 Loth. ”
The attribution of the drawing here as follows :
The stag’s face has nothing in common with that of the etching. Although not checked down to the last detail it is neither a stag’s face typical for Ridinger. For the documentation of the antlers a court painter or even a skilled forest servant will have drawn these together with the head. Afterwards the caption with the facts followed by different hand at the court, the underlining of the year of which is not precluding as not unusual. Which was followed by its sending to Augsburg as suggested by the meanwhile smoothed horizontal and vertical folds down to 7⅛ × 4⅜ in (18 × 11 cm). The wish for an individual portrait was uttered separately, whereupon despite of missing comparison of writing the
lower margin note now attributed to the Ridingers themselves
in pencil refers to ,
“ this one wants all by itself —”
The fine trophy was not to go down in a group depiction. Therefore a commissioned work.
Of later other hand then analogously to the print the addition in pencil above X: and below the double inscription of Johann Elias & Martin Elias now utterly unfit for the drawing. As optically impeding the following note in the lower margin “this one wants all by itself” was folded down.
The state of preservation follows the procedure
with the utter charm of an autograph unicum
with certain fox and age spotting of especially the lower margin and perceiving on the back as well as slight pleats far left of the upper half outside the antlers. An item thus not just for the portfolio, rather also and indeed
in the interaction of drawing & texts
for very appealing hanging
outside bright incidence of light. Documenting the courses of the becoming of an engraving, here then by the specialist address of not just its century in general. And in such a manner of quite particular rarity, see at the outset.
Offer no. 15,853 / EUR 1380. / export price EUR 1311. (c. US$ 1585.) + shipping
« Ridinger —
One of the few German baroque artists
who since his death 220 years ago
never fell into oblivion »
Rolf Biedermann
(Master Drawings of German Baroque)
Augsburg 1987 , page 338
“ shot on a hunt near Stuttgh: ”
and the likeness rushed to Augsburg
1735 Haben Ihro Hochfl Durchlaucht: Diesses Extras Haubt Schwein, welchem die obre gewörff auf bedr Seides heraus gewagßen, eines Zoll diefs und wider eines Zoll tieffs wider in den Rißell hinein gewagßen auff die Jagt bey Stuttgh: geschossen (1735 His High Princely Serene Highness have shot: This Extra Main Boar whose upper fangs on both sides had grown out, one inch deep and again one inch deep again into the snout on the hunt near Stuttgart). Boar broad to the left, below left of the running line detail of the malformation. Grey brush, partially black. Above left of the fangs as
addition in pencil supposedly by Johann Elias Ridinger’s hand
sketch of the malformation analogously to the etching of 1740/41 the latest. Inscribe in bister in German as above. 6¼ × 7½ in (160 × 192 mm).
Abnormity rendering sent to Ridinger from the court of Duke Charles Alexander of Wurttemberg as a
Ridingeriana rarity of degree
and 1976 in aforesaid Tenner’s 110th sale together with above stag antlers drawing to Th. 353 as
original Ridinger drawing “ captioned by own hand ”
as enclosure to lot 3948 figurierend, that sketchbook verified for Johann Elias Ridinger as evidenced by Christmas dedication of 1766 (from this double sketch to Th. 1076) with provenances Weigel, yet not (anymore) in above catalog of 1869, & Hamminger (1895, but without aforesaid two enclosures). Nevertheless the latter came from a good stable. For the Ridinger estate sold off along with them at Dr. Tenner’s in the 1970s through years was first-class. In respect of both drawings and prints.
Present design Ridinger used in reverse to the right for plate 12, Th. 254, of his 101-sheet main work of the Most Wondrous Deer and Other Particular Animals published since 1740 the latest and concluded posthumously 1768, captioned there
“ Anno 1735. / haben / Ihro Hochfürstl: Durchl: Carl Alexander Herzog zu Wirtenberg / dises Extra Haupt Schwein / welchem das obere gewörff auf beyden seiten heraus und eines zoll tieffs in dem Rüssel hinein / gewachsen auf einem Jagen bey Stuttgard geschoßen. ”
Smoothed horizontal and vertical folding down to 3⅛ × 3¾ and 4 in (8 × 9.5 and 10 cm) resp. as well as a minimal ink breach at the right edge. In the interaction with the bister of the effective inscription the even browning imparts a downright beautiful patina. Thus a sheet almost too good just for the portfolio, rather also and indeed
suggesting itself for a very appealing hanging
outside bright incidence of light .
And not least documenting the courses of the becoming of an engraving, here then by the specialist address of not just its century in general. And in such a manner of quite particular rarity, see at the outset.
Offer no. 15,854 / sold
„ … sind die Dachse perfekt verpackt und verschnürt bei mir … angekommen. Schon das Auspacken des Bildes hat mir große Freude gemacht und der ‚Ridinger‘ gefällt mir sehr gut, da es eine realistische Stimmung am Bau wiederspiegelt … werde ihn unter meiner Dachsschwarte aufhängen … Ich nehme dies zum Anlaß auch weiterhin in ihrem Fundus zu suchen … Besonderen Dank auch für die Beilage der Dez. 08 Ausgabe von Wild & Hund mit dem gelungenen (Ridinger-)Artikel … Ihnen nochmals herzlichen Dank für ihre fabelhafte Arbeit … “
(Herr K. R., 19. Juni 2009)