Amédée Michel Besnus’ etching, “Chevaux de Halage”, 1871

Amédée Michel Besnus (1831–1909)

“Chevaux de Halage” (aka “Hauling Horses”; “Boat Horses”; “Tow Horses”), 1871 (date of publication [IFF]), plate 97 illustration to the art periodical, “L’Illustration Nouvelle”, published in 1871 and printed in Paris by Cadart & Luce (fl.1867–1870/1).

Etching with pale plate tone on laid paper (with watermark).

Size: (irregular sheet) 31.5 x 41.9 cm; (plate) 15.6 x 23.7 cm; (image borderline) 12.2 x 20.3 cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline: (upper right) “97.”

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (on sign) “CHEMIN/ DE HALAGE/ AVIS”; (lower right corner) “A. Besnus.”

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A. Besnus sculp.”; (centre) “CHEVAUX DE HALAGE”; (right) “Paris, CADAT & LUCE, Editeurs Imprimeurs, Rue N^ve des Mathurins, 58.”

IFF 5 (Jean Laren 1937, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des Estampes, vol. 2, p. 350, cat. no. 5 [see https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5488531x/f359]).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression, with generously wide margins in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this strong and beautifully executed etching showing tethered towpath horses and free-range domestic fowl, for the total cost of AU$238 (currently US$156.54/EUR144.17/GBP123.25 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 marvellous rendering of horses—note the subtle way that the artist has suggested the different tones/colours each horse—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.