Matthias Pfenninger’s etching, “Title Plate to Philip James de Loutherbourg’s ‘D’Animaux’ Suite”, c1806

Matthias Pfenninger (aka Mathias Pfeninger; Mathias Pfenninguer) (1739–1813)

“Title Plate to Philip James de Loutherbourg’s ‘D’Animaux’ Suite” (aka “1ere Suite D'Animaux Inventés et Dessinés par J P Loutherbourg Peintre du Roy” [as inscribed on plate]), c1800–1813 (the BM advises that the proposed dating is based on the active dates of the publisher and that the print may have been executed earlier [see BM’s Curator’s comment for inv. no. 1919,0415.774]), title plate to the first series of etchings showcasing animals after the designs of Philip James de Loutherbourg (aka Philipp Jakob Loutherburg; Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg) (1740–1812), published in Paris by Aaron Martinet (?) (1762–1841).

Etching on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline (with loss of the publication details, “A Paris chez Martinet.”) and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet/image borderline) 23.6 x 32.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate on tablet: “1ere SUITE D'ANIMAUX INVENTÉS ET DESSINÉS PAR J P LOUTHERBOURG PEINTRE DU ROY”.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“Title page to a series of etchings after de Loutherbourg, two men resting by a well at left surmounted by statue of a lion, with a dog and three mules to right in a mountainous landscape”

( https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1919-0415-774).

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression, trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. There is a dot stain at lower left, otherwise the sheet is in excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this title-plate to a series of etchings based on de Loutherbourg’s drawings of animals, for $207 in total (currently US$145.09/EUR124.66/GBP112.70 at the time of posting 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 interestingly designed composition—mindful that the designer, Philip James de Loutherbourg, also designed the “Eidophusikon” (an animated presentation seen as a precursor to movie making [see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidophusikon)—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