Domenico Tiepolo’s etching, “St Gerolamo Emiliani”, c1750

Domenico Tiepolo (aka Giandomenico Tiepolo; Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo) (1727–1804)

“St Gerolamo Emiliani” (aka “B.P. Hieronymus Æmilianus”), 1740–1760, , linked to (but not a part of) the series of seven etchings that I understand were based on proposed paintings for the Oratorio del Crocifisso (Oratory of the Crucifix) in San Polo, Venice (Rizzi 58–64). Note that Aldo Rizzi (1971) in his catalogue raisonné (“The Etchings of the Tiepolos”) advises that the “style and the icongraphy prove this to be one of the very earliest etchings by Giandomenico [aka Domenico Teopolo] to be connected with the series” (p. 138).

Etching on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline and lower writing edge, backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13.6 x 8.7 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: “B. P. Hieronymus Æmilianus./ D.Tiepolo Fec.”

State i (of i)

Rizzi 55 (Aldo Rizzi 1971, “The Etchings of the Tiepolos: Complete Edition”, London, Phaidon Press, p. 138, cat. no. 55); Nagler 18; De Vesme 65; Sack 50.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “St Jerome Emiliani kneeling holding a key and sword/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1907-0515-84-52).

Interestingly, a copy of this print held by the British Museum is a part of the folio of prints by the Tiepolo family, “Opere Varie”, acquired on behalf of the British Museum by Campbell Dodgson from a London bookseller in 1907 for what was even then the paltry sum of £5 (actually £2 10s). When Dodgson inquired why it was so inexpensive, the bookseller advised him: “Well, Sir, you see it's a bad period” (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1907-0515-84-1). Times change!

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression, trimmed around the image borderline and laid onto a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this very rare etching showing the patron saint of orphans, St Gerolamo Emiliani (1481–1537), who was canonised in 1768 by Clement XIII shortly after this print was executed, for AU$467 (currently US$332.51/EUR312.76/GBP266.26 at the time of posting this print) 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 small but quietly beautiful etching—note how the artist has used stippling to “bathe” the kneeling saint in heavenly light—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