Johann Elias Ridinger's etching, “Die wilden Schweine” (Wild boars), c.1740

Johann Elias Ridinger (aka Johann Elias Riedinger) (1698–1767)

“Die wilden Schweine” (Wild boars), c.1740, plate 2 from the series of eight plates, “Gründliche Beschreibung und Vorstellung der wilden Thiere nach Ihrer Natur, Geschlecht, Alter und Spur” (Thorough description and presentation of the wild animals according to their nature, sex, age and tracks), published in Augsburg by the artist.

Note: the letters “A.V.” inscribed in the publication details on this plate do not refer to the name of a publisher (often given as a fictitious publisher, “August Vindel” or “Aug. Vindel.”). Instead, the letters are an abbreviation of “Augusta Vindelicorum”—the Latin name for Augsburg.

Etching on cream laid paper with generous margins backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 71.3 x 51.1 cm; (plate faint) 63.4 x 46.5 cm; (image borderline) 55.5 x 44.5 cm.

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (left) “Cum Priv. Sac. Cæs Majest.”; (left of centre) “Sau Fährte im Trab” (Sow track at a trot)/ “Gefährte einer Trächtigen Bache” (Companion of a pregnant wild sow); (right of centre) “Sau Fährte flüchtig” (Sow track fleeting)/ “Gefährte von einer Bachen” (Companion of a wild sow); (right) “Ioh. El. Ridinger inv pinx. Sculp. et excud. A. V./ 2.”

Thienemann 1856 188 (Georg Thienemann, 1856, “Leben und Wirken des ... Thiermalers und Kupferstechers Johann Elias Ridinger, mit ... Verzeichniss seiner Kupferstiche, Schwarzkunstblätter”, Leipzig, Rudolph Weigel, p. 47, cat. no. 188).

This publication may be viewed online or downloaded free-of-charge from archive.org: https://archive.org/details/lebenundwirkende00thie/page/46

Thienemann (1856) offers the following description of this print (abridged):

[transl.] “The wild pigs. One of the most magnificent leaves of this magnificent collection. They [the five featured pigs] lie in comfortable tranquility … but each one is different, it is, as they say, pig-friendly. … a smaller pig looks out … four strong pigs … [are at] peace … One lies, as if lost in death's sleep, quite frizzy, the other leans his head comfortably against the third, which raises his head somewhat with an expression of well-being, while the fourth sits more than lies” (p. 47).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A herd of wild boars sleeping in the mud surrounded by lush trees; boar footprints and explanatory remarks below.”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1528901&partId=1&searchText=Ridinger+boar&page=1)

Condition: richly inked and well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the plate and with generous margins. The sheet has numerous restored tears and minor water stains in the margins and is laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper.

I am selling this superb and large etching, described in the catalogue raisonné for Ridinger as one of the best in the series, for AU$210 (currently US$142.54/EUR128.77/GBP110.30 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 masterpiece of etching that seems to be held only in the collection of the British Museum (based on my search of the major art museums' collections), 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