Auguste Feyen-Perrin’s etching, “Death of Armar”, 1864

Auguste Feyen-Perrin (aka François Auguste Feyen-Perrin; François Nicolas Augustin Feyen-Perrin) (1826–1888)

“Morte d'Armar” (Death of Armar), 1864, plate 81, illustration to “Ossian”, published in Paris by Cadart & Luquet (fl.1863–67) and printed by Auguste Delâtre (1822–1907) for the Société des Aquafortistes’ second volume of prints, “Eaux-Fortes Modernes: Originales et Inédites” (September 1863–August 1864) with 60 plates numbered from “61” to “121”.

Note: the author of poem, “Ossian”, which this etching illustrates, caused a great deal of academic rumbling in the nineteenth century as the question arose: Was the translator, James Macpherson, the true author rather than simply a translation of what Macpherson describes—in the collected title of the poems—as "Fragments of ancient poetry, collected in the mountains of Scotland and translated from the German or Gallic language"?

Etching with aquatint on laid paper with watermark (“Aqua Fortistes”) and with the blind-stamp of the publisher (Cadart & Luquet) in the lower margin.

Size: (sheet) 44.1 x 28.4 cm; (plate) 31.8 x 23.8 cm; (image borderline) 27.5 x 18.9 cm

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower right) “A Feyen-Perrin” (slightly obscured by the background strokes).

Numbered on plate above the image borderline: (right corner) “81.”

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Feyen-Perrin sculpt.”; (centre) “Armar se jette à la mer résolu de sauver Daura. Soudain un coup de vent fond du haut de la colline,/ Armar s'abime et ne reparait plus. (Ossian)./ Paris, Publié par A. CADART & LUQUET, Éditeurs, 79, Rue Richelieu.”; (right) Imp. Delâtre Rue St Jacques, 303, Paris.” 

Beraldi 1885 13 (Henri Beraldi 1885, “Les Graveurs du dix-neuvième siècle”, 12 vols plus supplement, Paris)

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 81: nude male being subsumed by spirit, nude female figure above in shadows; illustration to Ossian”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1342723&partId=1&searchText=Feyen_Perrin+Armar&page=1)

Condition: a richly inked and near faultless impression in near pristine condition for its age (i.e. there are no tears, holes, creases, abrasions, stains, foxing, or signs of handling).

I am selling this wonderfully mysterious and romantic etching showing Armar drowning in his birthday suit after having thrown himself into the sea to save Daura looking forlorn perched on a rocky ledge, for AU$194 (currently US$138.24/EUR120.82/GBP108.50 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this extraordinarily beautiful etching full of theatrical light and dramatic rhythms, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.