Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). The Adoration of the Shepherds (St. Luke 2, 1-20). In the front on the right on a straw box the child held by Mary at his arm, behind her the announcing angel Gabriel and, to the middle, Joseph. On the left the group of the three shepherds, one holding a sheep. Above the mortals in and beyond the clouds many putti, carrying in anticipation the crown of thorns , nails , spear and cross as spectacular view on the fulfillment of Good Friday but still being held back by the archangel in view of the szenery at the crib. In the middle on the left another group of approaching shepherds. On the right outline of the stable. Mezzotint by surely Johann Jacob Ridinger (1736 Augsburg 1784) supposedly after Johann Georg Bergmüller (Ulm 1688 – Augsburg 1762). Inscribed in italics lower left: Joh. Elias Ridinger excud. A.V. 24⅞ × 17½ in (63.2 × 44.5 cm).

Schwarz (1910) 1486 (but not acquired along with the Horn collection in 1903, see below); Wend (1975), Ergänzungen zu den Œuvreverzeichnissen der Druckgrafik, 1,1, 147 with reference to Schwarz; Niemeyer, Ridinger Erlebnisse 1698-2020, 2021, pp. XIII & 59 f. with 2 (1 full size) color ills.

Not in Weigel, Art Stock Catalog, division I-XXVIII (1838/57; more than 1000 R. sheets of the etched/engraved work) , Thienemann (and therewith not in the Dresden Printroom, too; 1856) + Count Stillfried (1876) , Silesian Ridinger Collection at Boerner (1885; “of greatest richness … many rarities”, among them per 2036 a Shepherds Adoration unknown to literature) , Coppenrath Collection (1889/90) , R. collection at Wawra (1890; besides 234 drawings 600 prints) , Reich auf Biehla Collection (1894; “Of all [R. collections on the market] since long time there is none standing comparison even approximately with the present one in respect of completeness and quality … especially the rarities and undescribed sheets present in great number”; 1266 sheet plus 470 duplicates + 20 drawings) , market sweeper Gg. Hamminger (1895) , R. catalog Helbing (1900; 1554 nos.) , Horn Collection (1903; “The engravings and mezzotints described by Thienemann and Stillfried were present almost completely with few exceptions. Besides the collection counted a series of sheets undescribed hitherto: in addition to 4 and 6 engravings resp. a large number of mezzotints”) , R. list Rosenthal (1940; 444 nos.), collection of Alexander Count of Faber-Castell (1958; 106 drawings + 1160 prints).

Grandiose intricate composition as a pendant to Ridinger’s Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Schwarz 1516 definitely ascertained for Bergmüller (“Joh. Georg Bergmiler pinxit”) and surely forming a uniform Ridinger-Bergmüller chain of events with furthermore an Adoration of the Kings (1406) and the Flight into Egypt (1482). All in the practically same size and presenting themselves as specially worked pictures for the wall.

Present in greatest perfection as widely so unobtainable for even just most ambitious collectors for the tinted plate allows, so the expert von Sandrart 1675, just about “50 or 60 clean prints. Afterwards (the picture) soon grinds off”. Raised enormously by the qualification as an almost unique!

In the lower margin still plate dirt. – Trimmed at both the upper corners on the platemark, otherwise with fine margins of up to 2 mm. – With watermarks WANGEN + (large) crown with appendix FAvI (ligated) as known for excellent early Ridinger states and mounted at five points on heavy handmade paper with typographic two-liner watermark. – With only quite minimal rubbing in the clouds above Joseph and a tiny pinpoint-sized hole visible only against the light, otherwise of almost untouched freshness.

Offer no. 15,260 | price on application