Wendel Dietterlin’s etched designs for architectural features

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“An Ornate Fireplate: Plate 60, 1598, from his treatise on architectural ornament, “Architectura von Ausztheilung Symmetria und Proportion der fünff Seulen”, published Nurnberg, 1598.

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins and lined onto a conservator’s support sheet.

(sheet) 29.8 x 22.7 cm; (plate) 25 x 18.4 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: crisp and well-inked impression with generous margins and lined onto a conservator’s support sheet. There is a small loss and restoration at the upper left corner, otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing). 

I am selling this rare original etching along with the FIVE OTHER ETCHINGS by Dietterlin listed below (i.e. 6 prints in total) for AU$600 (currently US$446.80/EUR423.54/GBP335.40 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world. (Note: I am selling the individual prints for AU$220 each including shipping.)

If you are interested in purchasing this group of marvellous old master prints, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“Plate 102”, 1598, from his treatise on architectural ornament, “Architectura von Ausztheilung Symmetria und Proportion der fünff Seulen”, published Nurnberg, 1598.

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins as published.

sheet) 32.8 x 22 cm; (plate) 25 x 18.4 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: crisp and well-inked impression with generous margins as published. The sheet is in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing).  

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“Plate 166”, 1598, from his treatise on architecture, “Architectura”, published Nurnberg, 1598.

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins as published.

(sheet) 33.2 x 22 cm; (plate) 25 x 18.4 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: crisp and well-inked impression with generous margins as published. The sheet is in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing). 

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“Plate 205”, 1598, from his treatise on architecture, “Architectura”, published Nurnberg, 1598.

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins.

(sheet) 33.1 x 25  cm; (plate) 25 x 18.4 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: well-inked impression with uneven printing towards the left. The sheet has generous margins and is in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing). 

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“Plate 88”, 1598, from his treatise on architecture, “Architectura”, published Nurnberg, 1598.

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins.

(sheet) 33.2 x 22.2  cm; (plate) 25 x 18.4 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: crisp, well-inked impression with generous margins. The sheet is in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing). 

Wendel Dietterlin (the Elder) (c.1550–99)

“Fountain Design: Plate 35”, 1598, from his treatise on architecture, “Architectura”, published Nurnberg, 1598. (Note: This plate features on the cover of the Dover [1968] publication, “The Fantastic Engravings of Wendel Dietterlin.”)

Etching (from an iron plate) on laid paper, c.1674, with generous margins.

(sheet) 32.4 x 24.9 cm; (plate) 25 x 18.2 cm

Guilmard I, 378, 70; Andresen (Peintre-Graveur), 254 ff; Warncke II, 771-774

Condition: crisp, well-inked impression with generous margins. The sheet is in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, stains, holes, abrasions, folds or foxing).

If I were looking for an ideal present for an architect, engineer, designer or landscape gardener, then these prints by Dietterlin might be the perfect choice as they celebrate the joy of free-thinking applied to design. From my understanding of their background, Dietterlin was initially motivated to illustrate his treatise on architecture with the aim of showing how the four classical architectural styles could be incorporated into the design for such features as portals for buildings, devotional niches, fountains and eye-catching fireplaces. Clearly, as seen in these marvellous etchings, Dietterlin was too much of a creative person—a party animal of the first order in terms of design—to become overly constrained by the formal principles underpinning the classical styles. These prints are unique as they exemplify a passion for creative invention.

There are many extraordinary elements to his designs that should be discussed, but, if I were to choose just a single attribute, my choice is the simple and straightforward way that Dietterlin shows the play of water in his fountains. Although each print featuring water is different, invariably Dietterlin uses only two lines to represent each jet of water and shows the effect of when the spray reaches the pool with tiny U-shaped curves to signify splashes. Dietterlin’s designs are truly bizarre and fabulous!