Johannes Visscher's etching, “Meridies”, c1660, after Nicolaes Berchem

Johannes Visscher (aka Jan de Visscher) (1633–c1692)

“Meridies” (aka “Midday”; “Noon”), c1660, from the series of four plates, “Times of the Day”, after Nicolaes Berchem (Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem; Niclas Berghem; Claes Berighem; Nicolaes Pietersz. Berrighem) (1621/22–1683), published by Justus Danckertsz (Justus Danckerts; Justus Dankerts; Justus Danckers; Justus Danckertsz.) (1635–1701) in Amsterdam.

Note: There is a related grisaille in reverse to the print attributed to Berchem in the Musée de l’Hermitage, St Petersburg (inv. 2037”) (see Schuckman & Scheffer [Hollstein] p. 8 and BM. Nn,7.11.2).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed close to the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 31.8 x 36.9 cm; (image borderline) 29.8 x 36.6 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) "C Berghem invent. / J. Vißcher fecit."; (centre) "MERIDIES."; (right) "Justus Danckerts Excudit".

State i (of i) Lifetime impression based on the strength and crisp quality of line showing no sign of wear to the printing plate.

Hollstein 2 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] D. De JHoop Scheffer [ed.] 1992, “Hollstein’s Ductch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woocuts, vol. 41, Roosendaal, Koninklijke van Poll, p. 8, cat. no. 2).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Midday; landscape with a group of shepherds and their flock; one of the shepherds reclines and drinks from a lidded tankard; a peasant woman breast feeds her baby and a boy wearing a hat sleeps nearby; in the distance a field is being ploughed; after Nicolaes Berchem”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1518396&partId=1&searchText=Visscher+Meridies&page=1)

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum:

(transl.) “View of a hilly landscape with shepherds and their cattle, at noon. The shepherds enjoy their lunch break, some food and drink, and another shepherd gets a nap. In the foreground a shepherdess feeds her baby.

(http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.191368)

Condition: richly inked and well-printed impression trimmed close to the platemark and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a collector’s mark at the lower right corner and there are several restored tears otherwise the sheet is in a good condition (i.e. beyond the restored tears, there are no holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing).

I am selling this large etching sparkling with strong contrast from the richly inked lines for AU$310 (currently US$213.31/EUR190.83/GBP166.90 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 beautiful etching designed to capture the spirit of lethargy under the midday sun, 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