Charles Waltner’s etching with drypoint, “Lions”, c1880 after Frans Snyders

Charles Waltner (aka Charles Albert Waltner) (1846–1925)

“Lions”, 1879, inscribed in the plate as being after Peter Paul Rubens (aka Petrus Paulus Rubenius) (1577–1640)—the Curator of the British Museum proposes with “variations after details of Rubens' painting ‘Daniel in the Lions' Den’, now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, inv.no.1965.13.1.” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-0214-220)—but more likely the etching is after details of the lion heads in Frans Snyders’ (aka Franchoijs Snijders) (1579–1657), “Two Young Lions Chasing a Roe”, early 1600s, in the Alte Pinakothek  (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frans_Snyders_-_Two_young_lions_chasing_a_roe.jpg), printed by Alfred Salmon (fl.1863–1894) as an illustration to “L'Art” published in 1879.

Etching and drypoint on cream laid paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 30.4 x 39.8 cm; (plate) 23.8 x 29.6 cm; (image borderline) 20.6 x 25.5 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “P.P. Rubens pinx/ L'Art”; (centre) “LIONS/ (Cabinet de S.M. Léopold II, Roi des Belges.)”; (right) “Ch. Waltner sc./ Imp. A. Salmon”.

Beraldi 18 (Henri Béraldi 1892, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes”, vol. XII, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 260, cat. no. 18).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression with generously wide margins in excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this amazing etching that, despite being rendered solely in black lines, has the appearance of being executed in white lines emerging from a black background—no wonder that Waltner is regarding as one of the major printmakers of the 19^th century for his virtuosity in reproducing old master paintings!—for the total cost of AU$197 (currently US$144.10/EUR122.08/GBP104.73 at the time of posting 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 dramatic study of two lions, 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