Abel Mignon’s engraving, “Samson and the Lion”, c1891, after Léon Bonnat

Abel Mignon (aka Abel Justin Mignon; Justin Abel Francois Xavier Mignon) (1861–1936)

“Samson and the Lion”, c1891, proof-state impression after Léon Bonnat’s (aka Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat) (1833–1922) painting, “The Youth of Samson, Judges XIV” (aka “Samson's Youth”), 1891, exhibited in the Paris Salon des Beaux-Arts of 1891 (see Christie’s Auctions 2006 (Auction 1717, Lot 118): https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4800786), published by Arthur Tooth & Sons (London) with the publisher’s blind-stamp and watermarked paper.

Engraving on buff wove paper with the watermarks of Arthur Tooth & Sons and BFK Rives, and the blind-stamp of the publishers, Arthur Tooth & Sons, at lower-left corner.

Size: (sheet) 32 x 45.7 cm; (plate) 30.8 x 37 cm; (image borderline) 22.8 x 27.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower right corner) “[L?]ⁿ. Bonnat./ 1891.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Abel Mignon Graveur” with blind-stamp below the lettering with the ligature mark of Arthur Tooth & Sons.

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

I am selling this finely engraved translation of Léon Bonnat’s painting by an engraver better known for his many designs for postage stamps—interestingly, I understand that Abel Mignon’s stamp design for what is now the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was reissued in 2010 (see Pierre Julien’s article [2014], “L'affaire Dreyfus, le graveur Abel Mignon et le général de Gaulle dans ‘Timbres magazine’")—AU$277 in total (currently US$198.96/EUR175.20/GBP146.53 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 exceedingly rare engraving—note that I have been unable to fine a copy of this strikingly beautiful print in any of the major art museums!—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