Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). Pastor bonus. Christ as Good Shepherd with crook, surrounded by four sheep, in rocky landscape. Mezzotint by Johann Jacob Ridinger (1736 Augsburg 1784). Inscribed: Ioh. Iacob Ridinger sculps. / Ioh. El. Ridinger del. A. V., otherwise as above. 19⅞ × 14½ in (50.5 × 36.9 cm).

Provenance: Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1866-1928), his Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 108 on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004).

Thienemann + Schwarz 1270 (cf. Schwarz II, pl. XLI as “Variant”, recte first state, 1488); Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX, 1998 ( “Very rare”, 1885 ! ); Reich auf Biehla ( “Rare”, 1894 ); Faber-Castell (1958) 108. – Boerner + Biehla without state detail.

Not in Weigel, Art Stock Catalog I-XXVIII (1838/57; there only per 18,543 a Pastor bonus in octavo), Coppenrath Collection (1889 f.), Helbing XXXIV (Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger; 1900), Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940) .

Hitherto not recognized second state with otherwise minimal deviations distinguishable by the stylistically refined cartouche in the lower, otherwise empty, text field, as routine faux pas expressly regarded by Schwarz as Baroque cartouche as with its mussel decoration and the curved lateral guidance with ornamental foot actually correct for 1488 only. Present one, however, with exception of the lateral, though likewise simplified vine-leafs stripped of any decoration and also laterally closed plain-austerely. In the lower margin of it the upper delineation of the lower of the two previous mussels still tenderly visible.

Marvelous copy of vibrant chiaroscuro. – With WANGEN watermark as standing for old impressions and with margins of 3-5.5 cm on all sides with partially still slight plate dirt in the lateral and lower platemark. The utterly smoothed out former centerfold not perceptible from front. Acid-freely backed small tear in the white right lateral margin.

Offer no. 14,876 | price on application