Paul Laurent’s etching, “Calice de Saint-Remi”, c1881

Paul Laurent (aka Félix Paul Simon Laurent) (1840–1891)

“Calice de Saint-Remi” (aka “Chalice of the Coronation in Reims”), c1881, printed by Charles Chardon aîné (fl. mid-1800s) and published in Paris in 1881 as an illustration to the art periodical “Gazette des Beaux-Arts”, between pages 98–99, 1^st February, 1881.

Etching on fine cream wove paper, trimmed with a small margin around the image and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (support sheet) 39 x 30.4 cm; (sheet) 24.4 x 16.9 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image: (following the base of the chalice) “Paul Laurent del et sculpt.”; (left) “Gazette des Beaux-Arts”; (centre) “CALICE DE SAINT-REMI/ (TRÉSOR DE REIMS)”; (right) “Imp. Ch. Chardon ainé”.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression, trimmed slightly unevenly around the platemark (and within it on the lower edge) and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this breathtakingly beautiful (at least to my eyes) etching of the late 12^th century coronation chalice that was (almost unbelievably) set to be melted down at the Monnaie de Paris, but returned by Napoleon III to Reims in 1861—only twenty years before this print was executed in 1881 (see Vassil: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calice_du_sacre_Tau.jpg)—for the total cost of AU$202 (currently US$121.91/EUR128.80/GBP113.80 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 superb etching—note how the artist has been able to differentiate the opaque milky sheen of the studded pearls from the dark transparency of the rough-cut gems and the reflective surface of the gold—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