Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). Mary with the Child at the Ionic column. Half-length portrait. Looking up in rich robe supported by fine chiaroscuro with the child looking out of the picture in the right arm with the left one participating. Below ornamented cartouche in wide text margin with just the signature inscribed. Mezzotint by supposedly Johann Jacob Ridinger (1736 Augsburg 1784). Inscribed: Ioh. El. Ridinger excud. Aug. Vind. 25⅜ × 18⅞ in (64.6 × 48 cm).

Provenance: Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1866-1928), his Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 170 on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004).

Cf. Schwarz 1521; Faber-Castell (1958) 170 without identification as variant to Schwarz; Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940), no. 441.

Not in Thienemann (1856) , Stillfried (1876) , Weigel, Art Stock Catalog 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) .

Variant described here for the first time to the smaller Schwarz copy (24⅝ × 17½ in (62.4 × 44.3 cm)) which in addition bears the engraver’s signature of Johann Jacob in the lower margin left. That of Johann Elias, in conformity placed right outside, deviating in the abbreviation of the first Christian name limited to the “I.” in Schwarz. If and in case which of these two versions corresponds with the Rosenthal copy has to be left undecided for lack of specifications there beyond an “imp. fol.”.

With figurative watermark supposedly accompanied by letter (p?). – With margin running about of a scant 1 up to 1.5 cm wide. – Mounted on cloth for partial abrasions, perceptible with the unarmed eye here and there only and barely impairing the optical general impression, as not yet noted for the 1958 sale, causing slight pleats in the mostly unessential lower subject. – On the back presumably by hand of count Radulf in pencil “For the rarest Ridinger sheets”.

Offer no. 14,962 | price on application