Pierre-François Basan, “The Storm”, c.1780, after Joseph Vernet

Pierre-François Basan (1723–1797)

“The Storm” (aka “L’Orage”; “Thunderstorm” [Hermitage title]; “L'Orage Impétueux” [LeBlanc title]; “Le Coup de Vent”), c.1780 (1773–1788), after Joseph Vernet’s (aka Claude-Joseph Vernet) (1714–1789) painting executed in c1773 and in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg (see https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/01.+paintings/37283), initially published in Paris by Basan et Poignant (Pierre-François Basan and his son Etienne-Léon Poignant [fl.1773–1791]). This impression was published in Paris by Pierre Jean (fl.1784–1820).

Etching on laid paper with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 27 x 29.9 cm; (platemark) 24.4 x 27.5 cm; (image borderline) 20 x 25.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Jos. Vernet pinx.”; (centre) “L’ORAGE/ A Paris chez Jean rue Jean de Beauvais, no. 32.”

LeBlanc 487 (Charles Le Blanc 1854–88, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 1, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 191, cat. no. 487 [see https://archive.org/details/manueldelamateur01lebl/page/190/mode/2up]).

See also the description of this print offered by the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum: http://www.virtuelles-kupferstichkabinett.de/de/detail-view.

Condition: a well-printed impression with a small margin around the platemark (approx. 1 cm) and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, or significant stains.

I am selling this finely executed engraving of an approaching rainstorm from the late 1700s—note how the artist has changed the tone of the circling birds from black when they are silhouetted against the lighter areas of the sky to sparkling white when the birds are in stark contrast with the dark storm clouds—for the total cost of AU$240 (currently US$163.09/EUR146.27/GBP123.30 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$240) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this curious scene of fisher folk that are seemingly unmoved and unhurried about a pending storm, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.