Pierre
Mallet (1836–1898)
“Four
figures in Grass at the Edge of a Marsh with Tall Trees and a Distant Building
at Left” (descriptive title only), c.1880, pencil signed artist’s proof
before lettering with publication details.
I
understand that Pierre Mallet was trained in etching—this is easily seen by his
knowledge and sensitivity in the use of different depths of etched lines to
produce a full range of tones—but he is better known as a porcelain painter—this
too is clear in his avoidance of outlines and his painterly play of breaking broad
fields of tone, such as the background screen of trees, with flecks of light and
dark to give luminosity and sparkle. Thankfully, his skill was recognised in his
lifetime as in the 1881, “The Pottery Gazette”, Vol. 5, No. 48 (1 June, 1881), advises
its readers that his porcelain paintings have such a “depth of tone and colour,
and delicacy of workmanship” that his works are “one of the best specimens of
china painting that we have ever seen" (p. 489). Although I do not know
the setting for the scene depicted in this etching, to my eyes it has strong connections
to the romantic leanings of Corot.
Etching
on fine cream coloured wove (Japon) paper, pencil signed by the artist and
backed with a support sheet.
Size:
(sheet) 63.2 x 43.2 cm; (approx. plate) 50.4 x 35.7 cm; (image borderline) 48.1
x 30 cm.
Inscribed
on plate within the image borderline: (lower left corner) “P MALLET”.
Condition:
richly inked faultless impression in pristine condition (i.e. there are no
tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, stains, foxing or signs of use) with
generous margins, laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality
washi paper.
I
am selling this sensitively executed very large hand-signed in pencil, proof
state etching for AU$232 in total (currently US$160.58/EUR143.66/GBP119.18 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 huge etching exemplifying the romantic
movement of the 19th century that perceived the landscape as “a place
of refreshment and recreation”—to borrow a phrase from John D Barrow’s (1995) “The
Artful Universe”, p. 32—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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