Charles Waltner’s etching, “Tête de Bélier Mort”, 1873, after Constant Troyon

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

“Tête de Bélier Mort” (Dead Ram's Head), 1873, from the series of 68 plates, “Tableaux de premier ordre anciens et modernes composant la galerie de M. John W. Wilson” (Ancient and modern first-rate paintings composing the gallery of Mr. John W. Wilson), after the painting of the same composition by Constant Troyon (1810–1865), printed by François Liénard (fl. c1860s–1880s) and published in Paris by Jules Claye (aka Jules Alexandre Saturnin Claye) (1806–1886) in 1873.

I understand that the artworks from the former John W Wilson’s collection (which this etching and the others in the series reproduce in 68 plates) were exhibited in the Wilson’s gallery to showcase (in transl.) “the artistic and literary Circle of Brussels. For the benefit of the poor of this city” (see Lambertus Vincentius Ledeboer 1878 “Catalogue raisonné de la bibliothèque de M. Lambertus Vincentius Ledeboer Bzn”, Rotterdam, Van Hengel & Eeltjes, pp. 139–40; https://archive.org/details/catalogueraison00ledegoog/page/n155/mode/2up).  

Etching with drypoint on cream laid paper with a small margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 28.5 x 20.5 cm; (plate) 23.5 x 18 cm; (image borderline) 16.8 x 13.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower left corner) “Waltner 1873/ C. T.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “C.Troyon, pinx.”; (centre) “TÊTE DE BÉLIER MORT.”; (right) “'Ch.Waltner, sc.”

Beraldi 42 (Henri Béraldi 1892, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes: Saint-Marcel–Zwinger”, vol. XII, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 262, cat. no. 42 [https://archive.org/details/lesgraveursdu19e12berauoft/page/262/mode/2up]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Ram's head on a tray, after Troyon Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1877-1013-1879).

See also the description of this print offered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art:  https://www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/7460.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression in pristine condition (i.e., there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, losses, stains, foxing or signs of handling).

I am selling this visually arresting and symbolically potent etching projecting (for me) meanings including sacrifice—in the sense of the biblical reference to Abraham's sacrifice of a ram in place of his son—to feelings of respect for the animal’s fearless male determination, for the total cost of AU$224 (currently US$161.19/EUR141.38/GBP118.19 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 superbly executed and pictorially challenging etching, 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