Nicolaes Berchem, “Three Horses”, c.1679/80

Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berrighem; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem) (1621/22–1683)

“Three Horses” (aka “Group of Horses” [TIB title]; “Drie Paarden”; “Les Chevaux”), c.1679/80, plate 2 from the series of six plates showing different animals, “Dieren” (aka “Animals”; “Set of the Animals” [Hollstein title 13–18]).

Pieter Biesboer et al. (2006) explains that this print “belongs to a four-part series of animals after drawings made around 1679” (p. 156). Biesboer also advises in the same commentary note: “The design for this etching is in Paris (Musée du Louvre, Rothschild Collection; Stefes 1997, no. 17)”. Moreover, the “reclining horse is a recurring motif in Berchem’s work” (ibid.).

Etching on laid paper (with a partial watermark) with full margins and binding holes in the left margin. The image has been lightly inscribed with a squared grid in sanguine chalk and pencil numbers by a past collector—possibly for copying the design.

Size: (sheet) 22.8 x 29.2 cm; (platemark) 12 x 17 cm.

Inscribed in plate along the lower edge: (centre) “cum Privilegio”; (right of centre) “[artist’s ligature monogram] NB.”; (right corner) “2”.

State iii (of iii) with the addition of the artist’s monogram (“NB”).

TIB 7.14 (Otto Naumann 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 7, New York, Abaris Books, p. 60, cat. no. 14); Hollstein Dutch 14.III.

See also: Pieter Biesboer et al. 2006, “Nicolaes Berchem: In the Light of Italy”, Haarlem, Ludion, p. 156, cat. no. P87.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Two standing horses, one with its head on the back of the other, and a recumbent horse in the foreground, a goat between them, a shepherd to the left, a tree to the right; from a series of six prints showing different animals” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-3869).

I am selling this interesting etching showing the original binding holes in the left margin and how the print was used by what may have been an early art student who has lightly gridded the image for copying using sanguine coloured chalk and numbered the squares at right in pencil—for the total cost of AU$304 (currently US$209.99/EUR189.62/GBP158.05 at the time of posting 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$304) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this sensitively executed and subtly animated etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold