Jean Jacques de Boissieu’s etching and drypoint, “Eight Head Studies”, 1794/5

Jean Jacques de Boissieu (aka Jean Jacques de Boissieux) (1736–1810)

“Eight Head Studies” (aka “Sheet of Studies”; “Veuille d’Études”), 1794/5

Etching and drypoint on grey chine collé on laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 29.2 x 26 cm; (plate) 24.3 x 20 cm; (chine collé) 23.1 x 19.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s initials: (lower right) “J J. B.”

State iv (of iv)

Perez 96 (Marie-Féliche Perez 1994, “L'Oeuvre gravé de Jean-Jacques de Boissieu”, Geneva, Éditions du Tricorne, pp. 212–23, cat. no. 96iv); IFF 96 (Département des Estampes 1930, “Inventaire du Fonds, Français: graveurs du XVIIe siècle”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum from the same finished state: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1849-1208-502.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression. Beyond light dustiness and a few small brown marks (ink?), the sheet in a good condition with no tears or significant stains.

I am selling this marvellous set of head studies—interestingly, the somewhat stern looking head projecting a “no nonsense” demur at the upper right is a portrait of the artist’s gardener—for AU$254 (currently US$167.23/EUR157.14/GBP138.94 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 insightfully executed page of head studies where each face projects (at least to my eyes) the sitter’s mindset at the time, 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