Nicolaes Berchem’s etching, “The Resting Herd”, c1652

Nicolaes Berchem (aka Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem; Nicolaes Berchen; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz.Berrighem) (1624–1683)

Note: this is the second impression of this famous print that I have listed. The earlier listed print has been sold.

“The Resting Herd” (aka “Le troupeau en repos” [Bartsch title]; “Shepherd with resting herd” [Rijksmuseum title), c1652, plate 3 from the series of 5 plates featuring animals published in Amsterdam by Frederick de Wit (1629/30–1706) in 1652 (see description of the first plate in the series with the publisher’s address offered by the British Museum no. S.3847).

Etching on laid paper trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 26.5 x 21.1 cm

Inscribed on plate: (upper right corner) "Berghem fe."; (lower right corner) “3”.

State iii (of vi) with the plate number and the artist’s name but before the addition of the publisher’s address.

TIB 7(5).10(260) (Otto Naumann 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 7, New York, Abaris Books, p.55); Bartsch V.260.10; Hollstein 10.III; Weigel 1843 297.10; Dutuit 1881-5 I.36.10.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 3: The Resting Herd. A herd of different animals (one cow, a horse, a donkey, three goats and three sheep) resting, a shepherd leaning on a stick to the left, trees and a wide landscape in the background”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1662222&partId=1&searchText=berchem+resting+herd&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.38009

Condition: crisp impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a conservator’s support sheet. The tip of the upper-left corner is chipped otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, folds, holes, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this major etching in superb condition for the total cost of AU$264 (currently US$186.26/EUR165.66/GBP143.14 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 truly magnificent print that lends an impression of grand scale to what is essentially a simple scene of 17th century rural life, 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