Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). African Chamois. Recte the oryx and the springbok. Standing to the right the one, resting to the left the other. Glazed colored etching with engraving. Inscribed: BEZAARTICUS. Antilop — Cazella. / Africanischer Gems. / Bouc bezoardique. / Familia II. Zweÿhufige. / J. El. Ridinger fec. et exc. A. V. 12¼ × 8¼ in (31.1 × 21 cm).

Thienemann & Schwarz 1001. – IN THE RIDINGERS’ ORIGINAL COLORING from the unnumbered Colored Animal Kingdom created since 1754 and concluded finally posthumously not before 1773 (“Complete copies are next to untraceable”, so Weigel, Art Cat., sect. XXVIII, Ridinger Appendix 63a as merely 120-sheet torso, 1857 ! , but also just individual plates quite rarely on the market only, at niemeyer’s currently the one as the others all the same). – Remaining uncolored contrary to the prospectus, a second edition from the plates shortened even under loss of animals and with modified titling and the Ridinger inscription removed, yet now numbered, was published by Engelbrecht/Herzberg in Augsburg 1824/25.

“ These two well-made representations Ridinger has done from nature or well taxidermied specimen, but the names are wrong. The one lying is the Springbok (Antilope euchore. Forster), the one standing, however, the Oryx (Antilope oryx) ”

(Thienemann, ignoring both Ridinger’s remark in the preamble on his model and the correct designation of the springbok there).

With typographic watermark C & I Honig as that sturdy Dutch quality paper Ridinger used in line with his preamble to the Principal Colors of Horses

“on account of the fine illumination” for the colored works

“as for this purpose it is the most decent and best”. – Margins on three sides 1.7-3.6 cm, below 4.7 cm wide. – At the far lower left paper margin slightly browned. – Painterly fine.

Offer no. 15,889 | price on application