Johann Elias Ridinger, The Beavers

“ Returned among others the beaver ,
and this meanwhile in such numbers
that he poses a problem ”

Silke Hasselmann, (Debate about Wolves — From Blue-eyed to Hysterical),
Deutschlandfunk, July 2, 2015

Ridinger, Johann Elias (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). Bievres ont 2. ou trois petis, se multiplient a l’age de 2. ans et deviennent plus grands. The Beavers have 2. or three Young Ones, obtain their strength for breeding the other year; also grow ever more. Family of four at a far-reaching water. Villages on a peninsula and the far bank. At an old willow the teeth’s strength is proven. Etching with engraving. (1736.) Inscribed: 27. / Cum Priv. Sac. Cæs. Majest. / I. El. Ridinger inv. delin. sculps. et excud. Aug. Vind., otherwise as above in German, French, Latin, & below. 13¾ × 17 in (35 × 43.1 cm).

Thienemann + Schwarz 222. – Sheet 27 of the STUDY OF THE WILD ANIMALS with the caption of the Hamburg pope of poets, jurist & senator, yet foremost friend of Ridinger’s, Barthold Heinrich Brockes (1680-1747), in German. – With WANGEN watermark as so characteristic for contemp. impressions. – Margins 3-4 cm wide. – The utterly smoothed centerfold reinforced on the back.

“ Whenever I stand here before the engraving , when it hangs in the room , The room’s wall seems immediately , as it was , indeed broken through so really naturally the landscape is formed , and engraved in ore . The two beavers are presented so lively in their action ; one thinks one hears and sees them gnaw … and as (nature) almost unites these animals with a wise spirit which almost excels the animal spirit , which almost comes close to ours … the beaver’s spirit in Canada … ”

And not least and by chance already in 1901 Ernst Welisch qualified Ridinger as the indisputably “most important Augsburg landscapist of this time”. Here then

of shining-marvelous quality & therefore rarity ,

for even in exemplary old Ridinger collections the old impressions of particularly this so fine large-sized main set frequently figure as closely trimmed, damaged, and fully mounted. So including present one in the Silesian collection 1885 at Boerner, 1894 with Reich auf Biehla & at least without platemark 1889 with Coppenrath, too.

Offer no. 15,401 | EUR 690. | export price EUR 656. (c. US$ 793.) + shipping

– – – The same. Margins above & below 2.2-3.3, laterally 3.7-4 cm wide. – One small backed tear each in the white upper and lower margin resp. In the reed behind the young beaver front left small worm-hole. – Of almost still more shining-marvelous quality and therefore rarity.

Offer no. 15,592 | EUR 690. | export price EUR 656. (c. US$ 793.) + shipping

„ Habe heute Ihre Sendung dankend erhalten. Freue mich schon, das Buch meinem Mann … zu Weihnachten zu schenken. Liebe Grüße aus … am Dachstein “

(Frau K. G., 12. September 2007)

The Cream of the Day

“ Returned among others the beaver , and this meanwhile in such numbers that he poses a problem ”

“ Returned among others the beaver ,
and this meanwhile in such numbers
that he poses a problem ”