Claude Donat Jardinier’s engraving, “La Vierge Contemplant l'Enfant Jésus Endormi dans sa Crèche”, c.1753, after Carlo Maratti

Claude Donat Jardinier (1726–1774)

“La Vierge Contemplant l'Enfant Jésus Endormi dans sa Crèche” (The Virgin Contemplating the Sleeping Baby Jesus in the Manger], 1753, after the intermediary draughtsman, Charles François Hutin (aka Charles François Huttin) (1715–1776), after the painting “Die Heilige Nacht” (The Holy Night) in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Gal.-Nr. 436), c.1656, by Carlo Maratti (aka Carlo Maratta) (1625–1713), plate number 44 in the series of 100 prints, “Recueil d'estampes d'après les plus célèbres tableaux de la Galerie Royale de Dresde” (aka “The Dresden Gallery”). This engraving is part of the first volume of 50 prints published in 1753. Volume 2, with an additional 50 prints, was published in 1757. Note that here is also a supplementary set of 50 prints—mainly landscapes—published c.1795 (see the Curator of the British Museum’s account of the publication details, BM no. 1855,0609.1251).

Engraving and etching on heavy laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 47.8 x 32.8 cm; (plate) 45.2 x 30.4 cm; (image borderline) 37.2 x 28.4 cm.

Lettered on plate below the image borderline: (left) “C.Hutin del.”; (left of centre in three lines of Italian text) “Qvadro di Carlo Maratti /cavato dalla Galleria Reale di Dresda/ Alto Pi. 3. O. 6. Largo Pi.2.0.8”; (centre) [coat of arms]; (right of centre in three lines of French text) “Tableau de Charle Marattia/ dela Gallerie Royale de Dresde/ haut 3. Pi. 6. Pouc. Lar. 2. Pi.8. Pouc."; (right) “C.D.Jardinier Sculp./ No. 44.”

IFF 99.II (Bibliothèque Nationale, Départment des Estampes 1939–, “Inventaire du Fonds Français: Graveurs du XVIIe siècle”, Paris,Bibliothèque Nationale de France); Le Blanc 1.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“The Nativity, with the Virgin holding the Child while three heads of angels watch, after the painting by Carlo Maratti.”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3223846&partId=1&searchText=Claude-Donat+JARDINIER+&page=1)

Condition: excellent (near faultless), well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with a small margin around the plate mark, laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet has minor dust accentuation of the plate mark otherwise the sheet is in a very good condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).

I am selling this fine example of late Baroque Roman Classicism—note how the baby Jesus is portrayed as emanating divine light to illuminate the scene and how the further back  angelic head is designed to create a reflexive response by secretively peeking at the viewer from behind the Madonna—for AU$330 (currently US$228.44/EUR206.51/GBP175.93 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 very sensitively treated graphic translation of Maratti’s painting of the Nativity, 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