François Ragot (fl.1630s–1670)
“Christ Carrying the Cross”, 1632–57, copy
in reverse after the engraving by Paulus Pontius (aka Paulus du Pont) (1603–1658)
and after the 1632 painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) in the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels,
inv.no.163 (Rooses 274). Ragot’s engraving was published by Pierre Mariette
I (c1603–1657) in Paris.
Engraving on laid paper trimmed around
the platemark and backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 61.5 x 43.3 cm; (image
borderline) 59 x 43.3 cm
Lettered on plate below the image
borderline: (left) “Petrus Paul. Rubens pinxit,”; (centre) “IESVS BAIVLANS
CRVCEM ... / Apprehenderunt Simonem … interficerentur. Luc. cap. 23. / F. Ragot fecit cum privilegio Regis.”; (right) “Typis
Petri Mariette via lacoboeca, ad Insigne Spei.”
Corpus Rubenianum VI 18 (copy 13) (J
Richard Judson 2000, “The Passion of Christ”, VI, Turnhout, Harvey Miller
Publishers); Schneevoogt 1873 41.264 (C G Voorhelm Schneevoogt 1873, “Catalogue
des estampes gravées d'après P.P.Rubens”, Haarlem); Nagler 14; cf Hollstein 8
(Pontius).
The British Museum offers the following
description of this print:
“Christ carrying the cross; Christ
struggling at right but pushed on by a henchman; Simon of Cyrene supporting the
cross at far right; St Veronica holding the sudarium, the Virgin and St John at
left; soldiers on horseback beyond”
Condition: richly inked and well-printed
early impression (based on the crisp quality of the line showing no sign of
wear to the printing plate), trimmed near the platemark and laid upon an archival
support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in very good
condition for its considerable age. There is a restored centre-fold and a few tears.
I am selling this large engraving from the
early 1600s that (to my eyes) captures the “spark of life” of Ruben’s painting
through the layered rhythms of lines following the figures’ contours, for AU$450
(currently US$322.60/EUR285.38GBP246.77 at the time of posting this print)
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
engraving exemplifying the Baroque period style of startling viewpoints,
swirling rhythms, grand scale and dramatic gestures, 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