Matthias Pfenninger’s etching, “Soldier Wielding a Weapon, Seen from Behind”, 1764, after Philip James de Loutherbourg

Matthias Pfenninger (ala Mathias Pfeninger; Mathias Pfenninguer) (1739–1813)

“Soldier Wielding a Weapon, Seen from Behind” (MET title) (aka “Soldier with Axe and Quiver”; “Soldat mit Beil und Köcher”), 1764, plate 7 from a series of 8 etchings, “Eight Studies of Soldiers", designed by Philip James de Loutherbourg (aka Philipp Jakob Loutherburg; Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg) (1740–1812) “during his Paris years, 1755–71” (see the description of this print offered by the MET: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/775376) in the manner of Salvator Rosa (1615–1673).

Note that the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweighttps attributes this print to Philip James de Loutherbourg (see https://nds.museum-digital.de/object/79376) from the series “Premier et seconde suites de Soldats”, but from my reading of the documentation regarding these series offered by Henri Béraldi 1-2 (see https://archive.org/details/p2lesgraveursdud02portuoft/page/750/mode/2up); Charles Le Blanc 21–32 (see https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_urJCAAAAYAAJ/page/573/mode/2up) and G K Nagler 14 (see https://archive.org/details/neuesallgemeines08nagl/page/82/mode/2up), advise that both series had six plates only and so this attribution as plate 7 in either series seems doubtful—of course I may be wrong.

Etching on heavy laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 28.5 x 19.6 cm; (image borderline) 27 x 18.9 cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline at upper right: “7.”

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression, trimmed with a small margin around the image borderline, in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains.

I am selling this arresting—perhaps ever iconic—image of a soldier portrayed in the manner of Salvator Rosa, for AU$287 (currently US$193.72/EUR176.62/GBP153.02 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) 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 finely executed etching portraying the statuesque strength and the rock-solid steadfast spirit of an idealised soldier, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.