Francesco Bartolozzi’s etching with engraving, “Concert Ticket for Felice Giardin”, 1780, after Giovanni Battista Cipriani

Francesco Bartolozzi (1728–1815)

“Concert Ticket for Felice Giardini”—billhead for the Italian violinist and composer, Felice Giardini (1716–1796), possibly for a performance on, or around, April 6^th 1780 (based on a hand-written note on another copy of this concert ticket held by the British Museum [BM inv. no. C,3.12])—1780, after the design by Giovanni Battista Cipriani (aka John Baptist Cipriani) (1727–1785). A proof impression before the addition of the publication details, “Publish'd as the Act directs Feby. 4th, 1780,,”, and the later inscription on oval banner: “For the Benefit of Mr Giardini”. See another proof impression from a later state after the publication details were added, but before the addition of the banner inscription: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_C-3-11.  

Etching with engraving on heavy laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.2 x 15.5 cm; (plate) 14 x 11.3 cm; (image borderline)11 x 9.3 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “G. B. Cipriani inv:”; (right) “F. Bartolozzi sculp. 1780”.

State i (of iii) before the addition of the publication details of state ii and before the addition of the dedication to Mr Giardini of state iii.

Calabi & De Vesme 1923 (Augusto Calabi & Alexandre de Vesme 1928, “Francesco Bartolozzi : Catalogue de Estampes et Notice Biographique”, Milan, Guido Modiano, cat. no. 1923).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Bill-head for the benefit of Mr Giardini; a young woman seated on a pedestal, touching a lyre on a table with her left hand, holding a quill pen in her right, turned and looking towards a putto who stands behind her; on the right, Cupid seated on floor, holding an arrow, covering his face with hands; in an oval; after Cipriani. 1780” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_C-3-12).

Condition: a strong impression laid upon an archival support sheet of millennium quality washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing.

I am selling this curiosity of an etching that is not only a first state impression but I understand that it is also executed as a concert ticket for the performance by the celebrated Italian violinist (and composer) of the time, Felice Giardini, for AU$233 (currently US$155.74/EUR140.91/GBP124.04 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 rare and historically interesting concert ticket, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.