Bernard Picart’s etching, “Glaucus and Scyla”, c.1730, after Salvator Rosa

Bernard Picart (1673–1733)

“Glaucus and Scyla” (aka “Glaucus and Scylla”), c.1730 (c.1724/33), after a drawing by Salvator Rosa (1615–1673), plate 38 from the series, “Impostures Innocents” (aka “Impostures innocentes, ou, Recueil d'estampes d'apres divers peintres illustres: tels que Rafael, Le Guide, Carlo Maratti, Le Poussin, Rembrandt, &c. gravées à leur imitation, & selon le gout particulier de chacun d'eux, & accompagnées d'un discours sur les préjugés de certains curieux touchant la gravure”), published posthumously in Amsterdam by the artist’s second wife (Chez la veuve de Bernard Picart) in 1735. This impression is from a later edition printed on wove paper. Note that Rosa also made an etching and a painting (now in the collection of the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique) of the same subject shown here.

“Impostures Innocents”, in which this print features, may be viewed on line (or for free downloading) at Archive.org. The first URL showcases the index (“Table des Figures”) to the prints in the publication (this plate is number XXXVIII) and the second URL opens at this print:

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125012243180/page/n23/mode/2up;

https://archive.org/details/gri_33125012243180/page/n107/mode/2up.

Regarding the portrayed subject of this print, the nymph, Scyla, is shown escaping from the unwanted advances of Glaucus, a sea centaur. Later in the story, Glaucus requests a love potion from the sorceress Circe in the hope of securing Scyla's love, but as Circe is in love with Glaucus she gives him a potion that transforms the lovely Scyla into an ugly monster.

Etching with pale plate tone printed in umber coloured ink on wove paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 42.9 x 27.9 cm; (plate) 20.6 x 16.8 cm.

Numbered on plate above the image borderline: (right corner) “38”.

Lettered on plate along the lower edge: (centre) “Glucus & Scyla/ Gravé par B. Picart, d’aprés l'exquice de Salvator Rose, du Cabinet de B. Picart.”

LeBlanc 79 (Ch. Leblanc 1854, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant un dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations: ouvrage destiné à faire suite au Manuel du libraire par J.Ch. Brunet”, Paris).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Plate 38: Scylla running away and Glaucus, standing in a river up to his mid-thighs, trying to hold her back; after a drawing by Rosa”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1861-1109-780).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.302250.

Condition: well-printed impression with generous margins in excellent/near pristine condition (i.e. there are no holes, folds, losses, abrasions or significant stains).

I am selling this freely inscribed translation of Salvator Rosa’s drawing into an etching, for AU$216 (currently US$148.29/EUR132.26/GBP119.29at 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 very beautiful etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.