The Asian or Axis Deer

Martin Elias Ridinger (1731 Augsburg 1780). On this sheet are presented a couple illustrations of Asian deer which are strange to look at for their regular kind of spots, their basic color is reddish brown … They have, however, many things in common with (fallow deer) and our wild deer, also propagate their kind in Europe, therefore they are also kept by grandseigneurs in pleasure gardens, for difference and according to the country’s habits one uses to call the stag the Axis buck and ditto deer, have drawn such from life in 1774. Stag + deer, both with collar, that of the latter one with monogram B(D?)TOH ( HOHENLOHE ? ), in park with outside staircase, column of water etc. Etching with engraving. Inscribed: XXIX. / M. E. Ridinger, sc. A. V., otherwise in German as before. 13¼ × 9¾ in (33.5 × 24.8 cm).

Thienemann + Schwarz 372; Niemeyer, Ridinger Erlebnisse 1698-2020, 2021, S. 181 with ill. p. 183; Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX, 1881 (“Extremely rare”, 1885); Reich auf Biehla Collection 115 (“Extremely rare”, 1894); Helbing XXXIV, Arbeiten von J. E. und M. E. Ridinger, 888 (“Extremely rare”, 1900). So then also

Sheet XXIX of the 46-sheet set To the Special Events and Incidents at the Hunt (“The rarest set of Ridinger’s sporting line engravings”, Schwerdt 1928, and, so Thienemann, “arranged almost throughout so that always two by two harmonize with each other and form pendants, just as they have been sold in pairs, too”) etched exclusively by Martin Elias after predominantly his father’s designs and concluded posthumously in 1779.

Originating from the omnibus volume of the old estate of a nobleman, here then

marvellous in their warm chiaroscuro

of the wide-margined impression with watermark WANGEN as one of Ridinger’s preferred firm laid paper qualities

with the Roman number

(“If they are missing, so this indicates later impressions”, Th.). – In the left white margin fold & little stitching holes from former binding.

Offer no. 15,719 | price on application