Carlo Maratti’s etching, “The Birth of the Virgin”, c1652

Carlo Maratti (aka Carlo Maratta) (1625–1713)

“The Birth of the Virgin” (aka “La Nativité de la Ste. Vierge”), c1652 (1645–1660).

Note: Paolo Bellini (1987) in TIB (vol. 47, Part 1, [Commentary]) describes nine different copies of this print (TIB 4703.001 C1–.001 C9; pp. 24–25), but this impression is an original lifetime impression by the hand of Carlo Maratti. Bellini (1987) also advises that the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin has a preparatory drawing for the crouching woman in the right foreground (inv. Kdz 15221) and there is another drawing of the same subject in the same direction as the print in the Kunstmuseum, Düsseldorf (inv. FP 8997) (loc. cit.). Regarding related drawings, the British Museum has a drawing by a follower of Maratti described as a “brush drawing in brown wash, heightened with white, on brown oiled paper” on paper with the verso side showing what appears to be “household accounts, apparently dated 31 December 1700, turned upside down” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1946-0713-1284).

Etching printed in grey ink on laid paper, watermarked "Flower in a Circle" (right of centre), trimmed around the platemark with a narrow margin and backed with a support sheet. The dealer from whom I purchased this etching advised me that it was formerly in the collection of Caironi ( Lugt 426)—I assume that there must be collector’s mark verso that is hidden by the support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.2 x 15 cm; (plate) 21.7 x 14.7 cm.

Inscribed on plate: (lower right) “'Carolus Maratus inuen. et fecit Romæ”.

Lifetime impression of state ii (of ii) with the inscribed publication details.

TIB 47(21).001 S2 (89) (Paolo Bellini, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Italian Masters of the Seventeenth Century”, vol. 47, New York, Abaris Books, cat. no. 1 [89], p.11 & vol. 47, Part 1 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, cat. no. [4703].001 S2, p. 24), Bellini 6.II (Paolo Bellini 1977, “L'Opera Incisa di Carlo Maratti”, Pavia); Bartsch XXI.89.1.

The British Museum offers a description of this print: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_V-10-5.

Condition: a very good lifetime impression printed in grey ink showing no sign of wear to the printing plate, trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark and laid upon a support sheet of fine archival/millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent (museum quality) condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this superb lifetime impression of great rarity, designed and executed by (according to the BM) the “leading Roman painter of his day” and “the last exponent of the great classical tradition of Roman painting that had originated with Raphael” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG37145), for AU$490 (currently US$382.10/EUR316.41/GBP273.13 at the time of posting this print) 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 marvellous example of the High Baroque Classicism, 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