John Sell Cotman, “Plate 47. Study of a Male Figure”, 1813–38

John Sell Cotman (1782–1842)

“Plate 47. Study of a Male Figure” (also known as “A Study”), 1813–38

Contextual Commentary:

This etching is based on Rembrandt’s page of studies executed between 1634 and 1638, “Study of the actor Willem Ruyter as a countryman, with alternative study of his head, and a bust-length study of a figure (c.q. kan?) holding a jug”, held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (acc. no. DYCE.435); see https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1023936/study-of-the-actor-willem-drawing-rembrandt-van-rijn/.

The V & A in its description of this drawing offers the following insights: “Rembrandt made several studies of the famous actor Willem Ruyter. The smock and cap are probably the costume of a country peasant worn by Ruyter in a popular play of the time. Rembrandt tinted the paper light brown to contrast with the dark ink he used for the drawing. The smudges of ink suggest that he used is finger to rub out areas with which he was unhappy.” (op. cit.)

Remarkably, V & A records indicate that Cotman himself likely owned this original Rembrandt drawing in London around the time he produced this plate. Furthermore, while most other plates in the wider series utilise soft-ground etching to mimic graphite sketches, Cotman opted here for a crisp, traditional line-etching technique—a deliberate choice that preserves the sharp pen-and-ink quality of the Rembrandt masterwork in his possession.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on heavy buff-coloured wove paper with full margins and the original deckle edge on the left. Plate 47 from the 1838 Liber Studiorum published by Henry George Bohn. Strong, near-faultless impression in near-pristine condition, free of defects.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 47.0 x 31.4 cm
• Image borderline: 17.0 x 10.7 cm

In-Plate lettering:

• Upper right corner: “47”

References:

• Popham 340: Arthur Ewart Popham “The Etchings of John Sell Cotman” in Print Collector's Quarterly, vol. 9, 1922, p. 271, cat. no. 340 — Available via Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/printcollectorsq93carr/page/270/mode/2up
• British Museum, museum number 1859,0528.195: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1859-0528-195

Price & Shipping:

AU$284 (approx. US$198.48 / €177.17 / £147.91) with worldwide express shipping included. Any applicable import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

To Purchase or Enquire:

Contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com for questions or a PayPal invoice.

Please note: The scan contrast has been digitally enhanced to show the print’s fine details more clearly. As a result, the digital image tones may not fully reflect the subtle tonal qualities of the physical original.

Jules Léopold Boilly, “Marche de Nubiens”, 1850, after Prosper Marilhat

Jules Léopold Boilly (also known as Julien Boilly) (1796–1874)

“Marche de Nubiens” (March of Nubians), 1850

Technical Details & Condition:

Lithograph in two colours (black and a buff-coloured tone block) printed on heavy wove paper.

The lithograph is based on a painting by the French Orientalist artist Prosper Marilhat (1811–1847). Printed in Paris by Bertauts (active 1830s–1880) and published in “L’Artiste”.

The impression is strong, evenly printed, and near faultless. The sheet is in near-pristine condition, completely free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 27.2 x 35.9 cm
• Image borderline: 22.0 x 27 cm

In-Plate lettering:

• Above image: (centre) “L’ARTISTE”
• Below image: (left) “PEINT PAR MARILHAT.”; (centre) “IMP. BERTAUTS, PARIS. / MARCHE DE NUBIENS”; (right) “LITH. JUL. BOILLY.”

References:

• IFF 40: Jean Laren & Jean Adhémar, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: BOCQVIN–BYON”, vol. 3, 1942 (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes), p. 51, cat. no. 40 — Available via Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Gallica): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488545z/f60.image
• British Museum, museum number 1889,0608.608: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1889-0608-608

Artistic & Visual Analysis:

This marvellous lithograph perfectly exemplifies the 19th-century European fascination with the exotic, depicting three Nubian men holding spears while seated atop Dromedary camels as desert sand and dust swirl around them.

Boilly’s mastery of the medium is particularly evident in his sophisticated treatment of atmospheric perspective. By subtly adjusting both the tone and focal clarity across the three camels, he brilliantly captures a shifting depth of field. The closest camel is sharply detailed with deep, rich tones, while the camels further in the background gradually soften in focus and lighten in value, evoking the hazy, sun-drenched expanse of the desert.

Price & Shipping:

AU$228 (approximately US$160.07 / €142.94 / £119.32), including worldwide express shipping. Any applicable import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

To Purchase or Enquire:

Please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will be delighted to answer any questions or send a PayPal invoice for a secure, straightforward transaction.

Please note: The scan contrast has been digitally enhanced to show the print’s fine details more clearly. As a result, the digital image tones may not fully reflect the subtle tonal qualities of the physical original.

Camille Corot, “Paysage d'Italie”, c. 1865–66

Camille Corot (Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot) (1796–1875)

“Paysage d'Italie” (Italian Landscape), c. 1865–66

Contextual Commentary:

This boldly inscribed landscape etching is Corot’s third and final contribution to the Société des Aquafortistes—a society of artists (active 1862–1867) founded in Paris to revive and promote etching as a prestigious fine art form.

The plate features an evolving publication history. Trial proofs of the first state (before lettering) were pulled by Félix Bracquemond. The second state was printed by Auguste Delâtre for the Société des Aquafortistes in October 1866 bearing plate number 246. This impression represents the third and final state of the plate, printed and published by Alfred Cadart (1828–1875) for later anthologies such as L’Eau-forte depuis 10 ans (1872).

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on buff-coloured chine collé on heavy wove paper with wide margins.

This impression represents a crisp, final publication variant of the third state. It features the fully realised text line showing Alfred Cadart as the printer (Imp. A. Cadart, Paris), differentiating it from earlier second-state Delâtre printings and variant third-state printings bearing the Bachelin-Deflorenne library text.

The impression is richly inked and sharply printed with no visible signs of plate wear. Aside from faint traces of uneven toning in the margin from historic mounting, the sheet is in excellent condition—completely free of tears, holes, folds, or abrasions.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 30.0 x 40.5 cm
• Platemark: 15.7 x 23.7 cm
• Chine collé: 15.5 x 23.7 cm
• Image borderline: 14.8 x 23.1 cm

In-Plate Lettering (below the image):

• Left: “Corot sculp.”
• Centre: “PAYSAGE D'ITALIE”
• Right: “Imp. A. Cadart, Paris”

References:

• Melot C7: Michel Melot, “Graphic Art of the Pre-Impressionists”, 1978 (New York, Harry N. Abrams), pp. 258–59, cat. no. C7.
• IFF 7: Jean Adhémar, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800: Cidoine–Daumier”, vol. 5, 1949 (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes), p. 186, cat. no. 7 — Available via Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Gallica): https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488526m/f198.image
• British Museum, museum number 1871,0812.723: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0812-723
• Yale University, accession number 1974.4.5: https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/15915

Price & Shipping:

AU$1886 (approximately US$1326.86 / €1188.34 / £990.71), including worldwide express shipping. Any applicable import duties and taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.

To enquire about this simply superb impression of this very beautiful and rare etching, please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I’ll be happy to send you a PayPal invoice for a straightforward payment.

Please note: The scan contrast has been digitally enhanced to show the print’s details more clearly. As a result, the image tones may not fully reflect the subtle tonal qualities of the original.