Charles Meryon (1821–1868)
“François Viète” (Seigneur de
la Bigotière [1540–1603], known by mathematicians as the “Father
of Algebra”), 1861, after a drawing by Jean Rabel (aka Joannes Rabellius)
(c1520–1603), published by Benjamin Fillon (aka Benjamin
Fillion) (1819–1881) and Octave Guillaume Rochebrune (1824–1900)
in “Poitou et Vendée, études historiques et artistiques” (Vol II) and printed
by Abraham Beillet (aka Beillet & Forestier)
(fl.1850–1876), from the second last state before the plate was destroyed.
Regarding this portrait of François
Viète, the British Museum points out that he is wearing
a Renaissance costume and is gesturing towards a scroll held in his left-hand inscribed
"A+B+C"—presumably referring to Viète’s mathematical studies (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1865-0114-134).
Etching with pale plate tone on laid paper (partial watermark “AM”) with wide margins.
Size: (sheet) 29.8 x 21.4 cm;
(plate) 19 x 11 cm; (plate tone/image borderline) 18 x 10.2 cm.
Lettered on plate along the
lower edge: (left) “A. Beillet. Imp"; (left of centre) “FRANÇOIS”; (centre)
[Meryon’s ligature monogram “CM”]; (right of centre) “VIÈTE”.
State viii (of ix) before the
addition of the words “d’après Rabel 1861” and the flattening of the borderline
at top.
Delteil&Wright 79 (8th
state) (Loys Delteil & Harold JL Wright 1989, “Catalogue Raisonné of the
Etchings of Charles Meryon”, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, [n.p.] cat.
no. 79).
Delteil & Wright (1989) in
the description of this plate, offer Meryon’s personal account about his execution of this print:
"The full-length portrait
from which I copied this etching, forms part of the frontispiece to a
mathematical work by Viète which is in the Imperial Library. I have
considerably enlarged it and, in so doing, had perforce to depart from the
original a little. ... As to the author's general observations on my methods of
working, and the qualities of my work which have been occasioned by the
appearance of this portrait, I must hasten to qualify them somewhat. I use the
burin much more frequently than formerly, but still with considerable
hesitation as it is a very difficult tool to work with, and one needs much
practice, if one is to become skilful with it, and I cannot say that I have had
much. I took it up rather late and never had the advantage of that almost
indispensable instruction in the use of it which is best undertaken when one is
young and should be sought from a master of the art" (Meryon, My
observations...) (see cat. no. 79 [n.p.]).
Condition: a superb impression retaining the guide-lines for the lettering and with wide margins. Beyond a
small spot of thinness on the right edge of the margin (only visible if the
sheet is held to the light) and a few faint marks on the lower edge, the sheet
is in near pristine condition for its age with no tears, holes, folds, losses,
stains, foxing or signs of handling.
I am selling this exceptionally
rare treasure of an etching by arguably one of the most famous printmakers of
the 19th century, for AU$374 (currently US$273.57/EUR230.26/GBP206 at
the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 sensitively executed etching of the “Father of Algebra”, 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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