Carl von Pechwell’s etching, “The Penitent Magdalene in the Grotto”, c.1770, after Pompeo Batoni

Carl von Pechwell (1742–1789)

“The Penitent Magdalene in the Grotto” (aka “Die Büssende Magdalena in der Grotte” [Nagler title]; “Die Magdalene in der Einöde” [The Magdalene in the Wasteland]; “Die Heilige Magdalena” [The Holy Magdalene]) c.1770, after a painting by Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787) in “la Gallerie de S. A. Electorale de Saxe” (as inscribed in plate), Dresden, with a dedication in French to “the serene reigning princes of the Holy Roman Empire, protectors of Christian morality” (“Aux Princes Serenissimes Regnans du Saint Empire Romain Protecteurs de la Morale Chretienne”).

Etching on chine collé on heavy laid paper with wide margins and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 37.3 x 50 cm; (plate) 30 x 45.3 cm; (chine collé) 29.8 x 44.2 cm; (image borderline) 26 x 40.1 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “La Peinture est du Cheval^r: Battoni et se trouve/ dans la Gallerie de S. A. Electorale de Saxe.” (The Painting is by Chevalr: Battoni and is located/ in the Gallery of S. A. Electoral of Saxony); (centre) “Aux Princes Serenissimes Regnans du Saint Empire Romain Protecteurs de la Morale Chretienne.” (To the serene reigning princes of the Holy Roman Empire, protectors of Christian morality); (right) “Parleur très humble très devoue et très obeissant/ serviteur Charles de Pechwill. Graveur de LL. MM. Imp. ^les RR.Clp^r:” (Very humble speaker very devoted and very obedient/ servant Charles de Pechwill. LL engraver. MM. imp. the RR.Clpr:).

LeBlanc 1 (Charles Le Blanc 1888, “Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes: contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations”, vol. 3, Paris, Emile Bouillon, p. 155, cat. no. 1); Nagler 9 (G.K. Nagler 1841, “Neues allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen, Zeichner, Medailleure, Elfenbeinarbeiter, etc.:Meglinger–Müller”, vol. 11, Munich, E A Fleischmann, p. 15, cat. no. 9).
Condition: a richly inked and well-printed impression with wide margins. There are restored tears in the margins and restored fracturing along the platemark with the whole sheet laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this magnificently strong and beautiful etching for AU$341 (currently US$227.92/EUR206.23/GBP181.54 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 large and seldom seen etching on the art market—interestingly, the British Museum, Rijksmuseum and the MET do not hold a copy of this rare print—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.