Paul Rajon, “Salomé”, 1870, after Henri Regnault

Paul Rajon (aka Paul Adolphe Rajon) (1843–1888)

“Salomé”, 1870 (as inscribed in plate), after Henri Regnault’s (aka Alexandre George Henri Regnault) (1843–1871) painting executed in the 1870 in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of New York (inv. 16.95), printed by Alfred Salmon (fl.1863–1894) and published in Paris in the art periodical, “Gazette des Beaux-Arts” (1^st January, 1872) between pages 78 and 79.

Etching with drypoint on buff-coloured chine collé on heavy wove paper, trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 22.2 x 14.1 cm; (plate) 20.7 x 13.8 cm; (image borderline and chine collé) 16 x 10.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (at left following the inscription on the painting) “HRegnault/ Rome 1870”; (right) “Rajon/ 1870”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “REGNAULT PINX^T./ Gazette des Beaux-Arts.”; (centre) “SALOMÉ”; (right) “RAJON SC./ Imp. A. Salmon_Paris.”

Beraldi 24 (Henri Béraldi 1891, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes: PILLEMENT–SAINT-ÈVRE”, vol. 11, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 159, cat. no. 24).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0610-1286 (inv. 1871,0610.1286).

The MET offers the following interesting discussion about Henri Regnault’s painting that this etching transcribes into line: “Regnault initially represented this Italian model as an African woman, but later enlarged his canvas at the bottom and right and transformed it into a representation of the biblical temptress Salome. Hair ruffled, clothes in disarray, she has just danced for her stepfather Herod, governor of Judea. The platter and knife allude to her reward: the severed head of John the Baptist. Just months after this picture’s sensational debut at the Salon of 1870, the young Regnault was killed in the Franco-Prussian War. His posthumous fame was such that an outcry arose when the painting left France for America in 1912” (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437384).

Condition: a strong and well-printed (near faultless) impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains. The sheet is trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and laid upon a sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this amazingly animated etching of great beauty—to my eyes this print almost breathes with life—for AU$214 (equivalent to approximately US$136.14, EUR 1120.62, or GBP 108.08 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$214).

If you are interested in purchasing this simply superb etching (with drypoint), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.