The Four Doctors of the Church

Preciously dressed in full figure, sitting to the right with the head turned to the left, the left resting on an opened book. Laterally left angel with crosier & tiara. Closed folio at his feet. Mezzotint after Alessandro Marchesini (1664 Verona 1738, active in Verona, Venice, Padua). Inscribed: Marchesin pinxit a Venetia. / Ioh. Iacob Ridinger sc. / Ioh. El. Ridinger exc. A. V., otherwise in the upper cavity of the mussel-shaped cartouche S. | AMBROSIUS. 21 in sheet height × 16¼ in width platemark (53.2 × 41.3 cm).

Provenance: Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1866-1928), his Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 171 on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004).

Schwarz 1532; Faber-Castell 171; Wend, Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, I/1 (1975), 206.

Not in Thienemann (1856) & Stillfried (1876), Weigel, Art Stock Catalog, sects. I-XXVIII (1838/57), Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX (1885), Coppenrath Collection (1889 f.), Reich auf Biehla (1894), Gg. Hamminger (1895), Helbing XXXIV (Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger; 1900), Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).

Very fine impression of rich contrast with watermark WANGEN as standing for contemporary impressions, trimmed below under loss of 3.8 cm within the inscription field with mussel-shaped cartouche reserved for entries of individual kind, though usually left empty in the preserved copies and here therefore obviously deemed dispensable for the picture, otherwise fine margin of 2-3 mm running around on three sides. In the subject itself – numbered in its right upper corner with red chalk pen “75” – some folds & little pleats. Some few marginal tears, the longest of which reaching 4 cm into the filling of the picture. Of the slight foxing spots on the back isolated ones showing through to the subject. Irrespective of this of definitely pleasing general impression, not least with respect to the rarity of these sheets as then already 1839 those by Ridinger after Marchesini remained unknown to Nagler (VIII, 304).

Offer no. 14,867 | EUR 685. | export price EUR 651. (c. US$ 700.) + shipping

In episcopal robes up to the apostolic cross on the visible left shoe in full figure with halo in front of heavy curtain – representing the curtain of life, since the Middle Ages also symbol of the mystery – from which the Holy Spirit in the character of the dove brings the illumination. Sitting to the left, the strained eye rests upon the text of a book held by an angel, while the right holds the quill feather, on the point to write to a scroll partly coiled up on a table to the right – on which also the tiara stands – on which the left rests. At his feet one further closed and opened folio each. Mezzotint after Alessandro Marchesini as before. Inscribed: Marchesin pinxit Venetia. / Ioh. Iacob Ridinger sculps. / Ioh. Elias Ridinger exc. A. V., otherwise in the upper cavity of the mussel-shaped cartouche S. | GREGORIUS. 57,5 × 42 cm (22⅝ × 16½ in).

Provenance: Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1866-1928), his Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 175 on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004)

Schwarz 1547; Faber-Castell 175; Wend, Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, I/1 (1975), 227.

Not in Thienemann (1856) & Stillfried (1876), Weigel, Art Stock Catalog, sects. I-XXVIII (1838/57), Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX (1885), Coppenrath Collection (1889 f.), Reich auf Biehla (1894), Gg. Hamminger (1895), Helbing XXXIV (Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger; 1900), Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).

Of brilliant chiaroscuro with margins around ⅝-1 in (1.5-2.5 cm) wide and typographic WANGEN/FAL watermarks as characteristic for contemporary impressions. The mussel-shaped cartouche reserved for entries of individual kind empty as the rule with preserved copies of the plates of saints, scarce due both to their technique and wear in the course of their regular use. Ridinger’s after Marchesini had remained unknown already to Nagler (VIII, 304) in 1839.

Offer no. --.--- | sold

The inspiration of the saint. In full figure as cardinal, preciously dressed, with aureole, sitting to the left at a little table, but the head turned to the right and looking laterally to the ground to receive his inspiration by the angel standing behind his seat. This just came forth from the heavy curtain – standing for the curtain of life, since the middle-ages then also symbol of the mysterious – still held back by the raised left. The right of the saint holds a quill in interruption of writing in the folio resting on his right leg. On the little table beside cardinal hat & inkstand scourge as instrument of torture of Christ’s. Left at his feet the front of the peacefully resting lion. Mezzotint after Alessandro Marchesini as before. Inscribed: Marchesini pinxit a Venetia. / Ioh. Iac. Ridinger sculps. / Ioh. Elias Ridinger exc. A. V., otherwise in the upper cavity of the mussel-shaped cartouche S. | HIERONYMUS. Subject size 21⅞ × 16¾ in (55.7 × 42.5 cm).

Provenance: Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1866-1928), his Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 176 on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004).

Schwarz 1548 (variant in writing: “Iacob” & “I. El. … excud.”); Faber-Castell 176 (without mentioning of the variant as against Schwarz); Wend, Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, I/1 (1975), 229 (variant in writing: “Iac.” as here, otherwise as Schwarz).

Not in Thienemann (1856) & Stillfried (1876), Weigel, Art Stock Catalog, sects. I-XXVIII (1838/57), Silesian R. coll. at Boerner XXXIX (1885), collections Coppenrath (1889 f.), Reich auf Biehla (1894) & Hamminger (1895), Helbing XXXIV (Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger; 1900) & Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).

Very fine impression of rich contrast with variant in writing, otherwise with WANGEN watermark as standing for contemporary impressions, trimmed below under loss of 2 cm within the inscription field with mussel-shaped cartouche reserved for entries of individual kind, though usually left empty in the preserved copies and here therefore obviously deemed dispensable for the picture. The otherwise tiny(est) margin running around on three sides partly cracky on two sides, here and there up to the edge of the subject. In the subject itself – numbered in its right upper corner with red chalk pen “80.” – some folds & little pleats, under passepartout at the latest of definitely pleasing general impression, not least with respect to the rarity of these sheets as then already 1839 those by Ridinger after Marchesini remained unknown to Nagler (VIII, 304).

Offer no. 14,866 | EUR 790. | export price EUR 751. (c. US$ 807.) + shipping

Sitting in episcopal robes with tiara and gloriole before a column, looking up to the right. With the left holding an open folio on his knee, the right resting on the table. At his feet two further, but closed folios. On the left the crozier leaning against the column, on the right in the background angel with the raised spoon of the child by the seaside. Mezzotint after Alessandro Marchesini as before. Inscribed: Marchesin pinxit a Venetia. / Ioh. Iacob Ridinger sculps. / I. El. Ridinger excud. A. V., otherwise in the upper cavity of the mussel-shaped cartouche S. | AUGUSTINUS. 22⅝ × 16⅝ in (57.5 × 42.2 cm).

Schwarz 1536; Wend, Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, I/1 (1975), 212.

Not in Thienemann (1856) & Stillfried (1876), Weigel, Art Stock Catalog, sects. I-XXVIII (1838/57), Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX (1885), Coppenrath Collection (1889 f.), Reich auf Biehla (1894), Gg. Hamminger (1895), Helbing XXXIV (Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger; 1900), Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).

Offer no. --,--- | unavailable