Salvator Rosa’s etching, “Three Soldiers in Conversation”, c.1656/7

Salvator Rosa (1615–1673)

“Three Soldiers in Conversation”, c.1656/7, from the series, “Figurine”. This is the only print in the series that is not signed in the plate with the artist’s monogram and is based on a brown ink and wash drawing in the reverse direction in the collection of Principe Urbano Barberini in Rome (see Wallace [1997], p. 187, 52a).

Etching with drypoint on laid paper (with partial watermark) with wide margins. Based on the deckle edges of the sheet and the placement of the image, this is possibly the full sheet when published.

Size: (sheet) 25.3 x 20.2cm; (plate) 14.3 x 19.1cm.

State ii (of ii) Note that there is only one impression known of the first state.

TIB 4512.072 [B.55 [284]) S2 (Paolo Bellini & Richard W Wallace [eds.] 1990, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol. 45 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, pp. 400–01, cat. no. [4512].072); Wallace 52 (Richard W Wallace 1979, “The Etchings of Salvator Rosa”, Princeton, Princeton University Press, pp. 186–87, cat. no. 52/II).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Figurine; three warriors at a low wall, one seated on a rock and seen from behind, the other two facing front behind the wall. c.1656-1657/ Etching with drypoint” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_W-7-80 [BM inv. no. W,7.80]).

Condition: a richly inked and strong impression with signs of wear to the printing plate. The sheet has wide margins around the platemark and is in an excellent condition (even a near pristine condition for its considerable age) with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or signs of significant handling.

I am selling this marvellous etching (with drypoint) by Salvator Rosa—note how the artist has used the angle of the foreground soldier’s leg and sword to link the two background figures in a flowing rhythm to bind and balance the composition—for the total cost of AU$328 (currently US$213.55/ EUR201.67/ GBP168.53 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$328) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb 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