Michel Dorigny's etching, “Putti and Fauns Climbing a Grapevine”, c1650, after Nicolas Chaperon

Michel Dorigny (1616–1665)

“Putti and Fauns Climbing a Grapevine” (NGA title) (aka “Bacchanal of Children”), c1650, plate 1 from the series of 12 plates after Nicolas Chaperon (aka Nicolas Chapron) (1612–1654/5), “Recueil de diverses Bacchanales” (aka “Recueil de douze Bacchanales”), possibly published by René Guérineau (c1605–1664).

Regarding this series, the Curator of the British Museum advises:

“From a series of plates engraved by Chapron and Dorigny (among others) and representing dionysiac scenes; the plates described by Robert-Dumesnil (IV.254.12-17) are all anonymous and it is therefore difficult to attribute them with certitude. Him [Robert-Dumesnil] and P.J. Mariette attribute them to Dorigny” (BM no. 1974,0720.4).

Etching and engraving on laid paper with narrow margins around the platemark with a collector’s stamp verso.

Size: (sheet) 18.7 x 16.5 cm; (indistinct plate) 18.4 x 16.3 cm; (image borderline) 18 x 15.9 cm.

Numbered on plate below the image borderline: (right) “1”.

IFF 137 (Département des Estampes 1930, “Inventaire du Fonds, Français: graveurs du XVIIe siècle”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Three putti and young satyr helping another young satyr to climb a tree; on the right, a putti feeding a goat with grapes”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1470299&partId=1&searchText=Michel+DORIGNY+&page=1)

See also the description of this print at the National Gallery of Art, Washington:

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.134411.html

Condition: richly inked and well-printed early impression with narrow margins. There is faint foxing otherwise the sheet is in good condition for its age. The back (verso) of the sheet has a collector’s stamp, mounting remnants and what seems to be a patch of restoration tape closing a small tear.

I am selling this strong museum-quality etching executed with supreme confidence—note how each stroke helps to explain not only the forms of the mythological children but also where they play in believable space where air can freely move around them—for AU$300 (currently US$209.97/EUR186.32/GBP165.28 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 perfect example of the Baroque period style, 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