Nicolas Chaperon (aka Nicolas Chapron)
(1612–1654/5)
“God Appears to Moses in a Pillar of Smoke”, 1649
Technical Details & Condition:
Etching on laid paper with a small
margin around the platemark, professionally supported on tissue-thin archival
(Kozo) washi paper. This print is plate 35 from the series of 54 plates
(including title and dedication plates) titled “Raphael Bible” (also
known as “Sacrae Historiae Acta a Raphael Urbin in Vaticanis xystis ad
picturae miraculum expressa”), after Raphael’s (Raffaello Sanzio;
Raffaello Santi) (1483–1520) frescoes in the Logge di Raffaello of the Vatican.
It was published in Paris by Pierre Mariette I (c. 1603–1657) from the
first Parisian edition. This impression is from state iii (of iv), prior to the
addition of the royal privilege note, “cum privilegio regis,” of the second
edition.
The impression is richly inked, crisp, and well-printed. There is a stain on the lower edge at the centre; otherwise, the sheet is in good condition with no tears, holes, or folds.
Dimensions:
• Sheet: 26.1 x 28.9 cm
• Platemark: 24.8 x 26.5 cm
• Image borderline: 23.4 x 26.1 cm
In-Plate Lettering (below the image borderline):
• Left: “R.V.I.”
(Raphaelis. Urbinatis. Inventor.)
• Centre: “Descendebat nubis Columua [sic], et loquebatur Dns [Dominus]. cum
Moyse, stabantq. / uniuersi, et adorabant perfores tabernaculor suorum. Exod.
XXXIII.”
(A cloud-like pillar descended,
and God spoke with Moses, and all stood and worshipped at the entrances of
their tents. Exodus XXXIII.)
• Right: “N. C. F. / Typis P. Mariette Via Jacobea Sub insigne spei. 35”
(Nicolas Chaperon Fecit [made
it] / printed by Pierre Mariette at Via Jacobea [Rue Saint-Jacques] at the shop,
“The Sign of Hope” [L'Espérance], plate 35)
References
• IFF 35 (IFF 35 (Roger-Armand Weigert,
Inventaire du Fonds Français Graveurs du XVIIe Sièle, vol. 2, 1951, Paris,
Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, p. 270, cat. no. 35).
See: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488514d/f282
• Robert-Dumesnil 37-3(4) (Robert-Dumesnil, Le Peintre-Graveur Français,
1842, Paris, vol. 6, p. 226, cat. no. 37). See: https://archive.org/details/bnf-bpt6k65576943/page/n245/mode/2up)
• Rijksmuseum: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200170532
Price & Shipping:
AU$298 (approximately US$213.06 / €181.25 / £157.91), including worldwide express shipping. Please note that import duties and taxes (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.
If you’re interested in acquiring
this striking depiction of Moses speaking with God—who has appeared in the form
of a pillar of smoke—note the contrast in treatment: long, curved strokes
representing Moses cast in shadow, contrasted with the short strokes flowing
with the contours of the brightly lit smoke column. Please contact me at
oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I am happy to provide a secure PayPal invoice
for a smooth and safe transaction.






























































