Franz Edmund Weirotter’s etching, “Near the Great Harbour in Marseille” , c1766

Franz Edmund Weirotter (aka Franz Edmund Weyrotter) (1733–1771)

“Near the Great Harbour in Marseille” (aka “Außer den großen Hafen bei Marseille”), c1766, plate 2 from the series of 12 plates, “Fourth Series of Different Regions” (aka “Vierte Folge von Verschiedenen Gegenden”). Note that the title plate to the series of which this print is a part is inscribed: “nach der Natur gezeichnet in Welschland” ([transl. “drawn from nature in Welschland”) (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-1020-897). Based on this inscription, the site of this scene is likely to be in the region of French Switzerland (my apologies if my understanding of the region of “Welschland” is incorrect). Possibly published in Basan & Poignant's (fl.1773–88) 1775 edition, “Œuvre De F. E. Weïrotter, Peintre Allemand, Mort à Vienne en 1771. Contenant près de deux cent Paysages & Ruines, dessinés d'après nature, tant en France qu'en Italie, & gravés à l'eau-forte avec beaucoup de goût, par lui-même” (Work of FE Weirotter, German painter, Death in Vienna in 1771. Containing nearly two hundred Landscapes and Ruins, drawn from nature, both in France and Italy, and engraved with etching with great taste, by himself), Paris.

Etching on laid paper with small margins.

Size: (sheet) 17.5 x 24.6 cm; (plate) 14.8 x 21.6 cm; (image borderline) 13.5 x 20.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “2”; (centre) “F. E. Weirotter fecit”.

State ii (of ii) with the addition of the artist’s name and plate number below the image borderline and showing the sky area fully executed along with the addition of two three-master ships and a rowing boat in the middle distance (and other additions).

Winterberg 163.II (Thilo Winterberg 1998, “Franz Edmund Weirotter, der Landschaftsradierer”, Heidelberg, Galeria Palatina, pp. 350–51).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Sailing boat in a natural harbour; group of fishermen in the foreground; second plate of the series. 1766/7

Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1854-1020-898).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with small margins. The sheet is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this very fine impression in a near faultless condition executed by one of the major Austrian printmakers of 18^th century, for the total cost of AU$228 (currently US$170.89/EUR154.67/GBP130.28 at the time of 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 romantic vision of a natural landing nook for fishing boats that to my eyes seems redolent with the grandeur of Piranesi’s vision of ruins, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that I have recently listed a remarkable sheet of five of Weirotter's etchings showing a similar fascination with caves (presently still available): https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2022/03/franz-edmund-weirotters-etchings-suite.html.