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Thursday, 26 January 2023

Jacques Callot’s etching, “The Temptation of Saint Anthony”, 1635

Jacques Callot (1592–1635)

“The Temptation of Saint Anthony (second version)” (aka “La Tentation de St Antoine”), 1635, third state of five states, published in Paris by Israël Henriet (c1590–1661).

Etching on laid paper trimmed around the platemark with partial loss of writing edge (cf. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1861-0713-262) and backed with a support sheet providing margins.

Size: (support sheet) 42.2 x 56.1 cm; (sheet) 33 x 46.6 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (lower left) “Jac. Callot Inuen. et fe”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “ILLVSTRISSIMO MAXIMOQVE VIRO D.D. LVDOVICO PHELYPEAVX DNO./ IA. CALLOT VOVET”; (right) “DE LAVRILIERE COMITI CONSISTORIANO SACRARVM IVSSIONVMIIIIVIRO/ DEDICAT CONSECRATQVE.”

Lieure 1416 iii (of v) (Jules Lieure 1989, “Jacques Callot: Catalogue Raisonné de l’Œuvre Gravé, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, pp. 93–95, cat. no. 1416 3e); Meaume 139 iii (of iv).

Jules Lieure (1989) offers the following description of this complex masterwork: (transl.) “St Anthony is to the right, raising the cross to protect himself from the demons who assail him.

Above him, a fantastic concert is given on the ruins of a gigantic palace. On the left, other ruins and rocks. In the sky, Satan himself, an infernal monster, vomits an infinite number of imps. In the background, we see the sea with a boat loaded with beings of the same family.

In the background to the left, a procession advances towards the saint: it is the woman of the Temptation, seated on top of a skeleton dragged by extraordinary animals.

In the foreground, we see a cannon made of an animal whose mouth projects a whole arsenal.

Finally on the right, the pig which accompanies the saint, is himself the victim of the fantasy of an imp who goes after him. The whole board is filled with demons of all shapes and sizes, indulging in all sorts of spooky pursuits” (vol.1, p. 93).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression trimmed slightly irregularly around the image borderline with loss of some of the lower text. There is restoration of tears and holes and the sheet is laid onto archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this large and famous masterwork of etching executed in the final year of the artist’s life, for the total cost of AU$1355 (currently US$963.35/EUR885.99/GBP778.46 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 fabulously conceived and stunningly executed etching by one of the most important and innovative of the old master printmakers, 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










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