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Sunday, 6 October 2019

Celestino Turletti's etching, “Il Corriere del Deserto”, c1862


Celestino Turletti (1845–1904)

“Il Corriere del Deserto” (The Courier of the Desert), c1862, after the 1862 painting of the same design in the collection Civic Gallery of Modern Art (Turin) by Alberto Pasini (1826–1899), from the series, “L'Arte in Italia”, published by Carlo Lovera (fl.1869–1886).

Etching on brown chine collé (China) on wove paper.
Size: (sheet) 23.3 x 32.2 cm; (plate) 18.9 x 27.7 cm; (image borderline) 14.5 x 24.3 cm.
Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “TC [monogram] Alberto Pasini pinse”; (title at centre) “IL CORRIERE DEL DESERTO”; (right) “Turletti Celestino inc./ Lovera imp.”

See the description of this print held by the British Museum:

Ado-analisidellopera.it (December 8, 2018) offers the following marvellous description of Alberto Pasini’s painting that this etching translates into line:
“A man riding a camel runs in the desert. The animal is stretched in the effort of running, lowers the neck and its long legs seem to give way. The rider, on the other hand, incites the animal by raising a whip with the right hand raised. The face of the courier is not visible and only clothing is captured by man. On his head he wears a turban while the body is completely wrapped in a caftan. A rifle is hanging behind his back. The rocky desert extends to the horizon and the dunes completely cover the ground. The moon is rising and rising behind the distant mountains. A long shadow stands out on the ground, to the right, starting from the camel's hooves. On the left you can see the only sign of vegetation. The sky is still clear and clear.”

Regarding the Alberto Pasini’s composition, the art critic, Virgilio Colombo, makes the following insightful comment about the artist’s oriental scenes:
“… exquisitely treated, not by way of searching for the usual sunsets and fiery skies. The atmosphere is fine and transparent and stretches across a silvery coat...all grace and subtlety” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Pasini)

Wannenes Auction (November, 30, 2016: Lot no. 760) showcases a preparatory drawing for Pasini’s painting and this etching including reference details: https://wannenesgroup.com/it/lots/282-7600-alberto-pasini/?cssasorderby=0&cssaspage=21&cssaslayout=grid#!

Condition: well-printed, near faultless impression with margins (approx. 2 cm) in near pristine condition.

I am selling this visually arresting etching after the Italian Orientalist, Alberto Pasini, for AU$233 in total (currently US$157.77/EUR143.61/GBP127.99 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 rare etching that (to my eyes) captures the experience of the vast space of a desert compacted into the small space of less than an A4 sheet of paper, 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












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