Charles Morel’s engraving, “Mary Intercedes for a Supplicant”, 1879, after Hieronymus Wierix and Hendrik van Balen

Charles Morel (1861–1908)

“Mary Intercedes for a Supplicant” (aka “Frondeo frugis mops..”), 1879, a pencil-signed impression with a dedication to the Mayor of Rouen, Auguste Lebond (1856–1934), after Hieronymus Wierix’s (aka Jerome Wierix; Hieronymus Wierx) (1553–1619) engraving (with variations), “Maria bemiddelt voor een smekeling” (1563–[before]1619) (see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.332416), following the design by Hendrik van Balen I (aka Henricus van Baelen) (1575–1632).

Regarding the portrayed subject, the British Museum offers the following description of Wierix’s engraving on which this print is based: “Christ seen next to a tree, about to sound a bell hanging from one of its bran[c]hes; the Virgin, kneeling to right, interceding for the life of a man, seen kneeling next to the tree; Death seen behind to left about to strike the tree with an axe and Satan trying to bring the tree down” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1859-0709-3215).

Engraving with an engraved remarque of a head (possibly the Mayor of Rouen? [cf. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Auguste_Leblond]) on Japanese paper (imitation vellum?) signed in pencil with a dedication to the Mayor of Rouen, Auguste Lebond.

Size: (sheet) 28.3 x 20 cm; (faint platemark); (outer image borderline) 11.8 x 8.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the inner image borderline: (lower left) “ch. Morel [S]cu[lp]t  20.10.79”.

Lettered in plate below the inner image borderline in two columns of two lines of Latin: “Frondeo frugis mops/ Iudicis extentam// Si mors secat attrabet orcus,/ Virgo, morare manun”.

Condition: a strong impression. The sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this small artist’s proof engraving that is pencil-signed and with an engraved remarque of a head that (to my eyes) resembles Auguste Lebond (the mayor of Rouen at the time when Monet was painting his famous series of the Rouen Cathedral) and to whom the artist has inscribed a dedication, for AU$237 (currently US$156.50/EUR143.39/GBP122.90 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 rough little nugget of an engraving based on Hieronymus Wierix’s engraving and, in turn, after the design by Hendrik van Balen, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.