Jacques Joseph Lecurieux’s etching, “Le Petit Braconnier”

Jacques Joseph Lecurieux (1801–1870)

“Le Petit Braconnier” (The little poacher), 1866 (as inscribed on the plate), plate 293 to “Eaux-fortes Modernes” (Modern etchings), published in July 1867 by Cadart & Luquet (fl.1863–1867l) in Paris for the Société des Aquafortistes and printed by Auguste Delâtre (aka Auguste Marie Delâtre) (1822–1907).

The Curator of the British Museum offers the following insights about the publication in which this print features (BM no. 1867,1214.1):

“From a volume (535 x 470mm) for the fifth year of the Société des Aquafortistes, September 1866-August 1867, containing sixty prints by various artists including Delacroix, Jongkind, Corot, Courbet and Bracquemond (Paris: A Cadart et Luquet, Éditeurs, 1867); with artists and titles at front, month by month, and introduction by Montrosier; bound with marbled covers and green buckram spine; unknown edition. Note that the plate numbering continues from the fourth volume, i.e.241 onwards.”

Etching on chine collé on laid paper with watermark, deckle edges, full margins (as published) and with the publisher’s blindstamp.

Size: (sheet) 37 x 57 cm; (plate) 22.8 x 28.5 cm; (image borderline) 18.8 x 24.4 cm.

Numbered on plate above the image borderline: (right) “293.”

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “J Lecurieux / Del. Et sc 1866”.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Lecurieux sculp.”; (centre) “LE PETIT BRACONNIER. / Paris, Pulié par CADART& LUQUET. Editeurs, 79 Rue Richelieu."; (right) “Imp. Delâtre,Rue st. Macques. 303, Paris.”

Stamped with the publisher’s blindstamp in the margin at lower centre.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 293: boy kneeling on grass trying to tempt unseen animal, two dogs beside him”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1347932&partId=1&searchText=Jacques-Joseph+Lecurieux&page=1)

See also the description offered by the National Gallery of Australia:

https://cs.nga.gov.au/detail.cfm?irn=35091

Condition: crisp and richly inked impression in excellent/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains—there are a few scattered minor marks—foxing or signs of use). There is light waviness to the outer edges.

I am selling this large full sheet etching executed with incredible sensitivity—I especially love the lightness of touch in rendering the muscles along the back of the further away dog and the delicate shaping of the clouds on the far left so that the strokes follow the curving contours of the same dog—for a total cost of AU$225 (currently US$157.89/EUR141/GBP120.70 at the time of 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 beautifully poetic etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.