Martin Elias Ridinger’s etching, “Hunter in the Winter”, 1745–60

Martin Elias Ridinger (1730–1780)

“Venator hieme obdurans et rigidus” (transl. “Hunter and a harsh winter hardens”) (aka “Der im Winter ausdaurende verwegne Jäger”; “Hunter in the winter with killed stag and bear”), 1745–60, from the series of four oval plates, “Die vier Jahreszeiten des Jaegers” (transl. “Four seasons of Hunters”), after Martin Ridinger’s father, Johann Elias Ridinger (1698–1767), published by Johann Elias Ridinger in Augsburg.

Note: although this print is a part of the series of four oval plates focused on the seasons, Thienemann (1856) advises that it is a part of a larger series of twenty-five plates and a title plate (p. 34).

Etching on laid paper with small margins backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 39.4 x 30cm; (plate [BM measurements]) 37.8 x 27.8 cm; (image borderline) 33 x 26.3 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline with German and Latin titles and with four lines of verse in each language.

Inscribed on plate below the lettered text: (left) “Joh. El. Ridinger inv. del. et exc. Aug. Vind.”; (right) “Mart. El. Ridinger sculps.”

Thienemann 1856 112 (4) (Georg Aug. Thienemann 1856, “Leben und Wirken des ... Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger ….”, Rudolph Weigel, Leipzig, pp. 33–4).

(Note: this catalogue may be viewed online or downloaded free-of-charge at archive.org: https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/32

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A hunter seated in front of his make-shift tent in a forest, surrounded by his dogs; at left various killed animals, including a bear and a lynx; from a series of four oval illustrations of the seasons on hatched ground. Etching”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1599890&partId=1&searchText=Martin+Elias+Ridinger+&page=1)

Condition: crisp and richly inked early impression in excellent condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or stains—beyond light age-toning at the edges of the margins—or foxing). The sheet has small margins and is backed with a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this graphically strong etching showing the Spartan life and rewards of an 18^th century hunter in winter, for the total cost of AU$270 (currently US$194.69/EUR171.82/GBP155.31 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this exceptionally fine masterwork of 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