Louis Ruet’s etching, “An Artist Showing his Work”, c.1891, after Meissonier

Louis Ruet (1861–1951) 

“An Artist Showing his Work” (aka “The Print Collector”; “Twee Mannen Bekijken Prenten”; “Two Men Look at Pictures”), c.1891 (based on the proposed date of publication), a pencil-signed artist’s proof printed on parchment with a remarque featuring an image from Abraham Bosse’s (c.1604–1676) 1645 series, “Différentes Manières de Dessiner et Peindre” (Different Ways to Draw and Paint), printed in Paris by Charles Wittmann (1876–1953) and possibly published on page 193 in the journal, “Die Gartenlaube” (The Garden Arbor), in 1891 (see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Die_Gartenlaube_%281891%29_193.jpg), after Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier’s (1815–1891) painting, “An Artist Showing his Work” (c.1850) in the Wallace Collection (see https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/an-artist-showing-his-work-209339). \

The Wallace Collection (Art UK) offers the following insights about this painting: “Exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1850–1851. The figures wear mid-eighteenth century costume, though several of the pictures on the back wall are by Meissonier himself (including a self-portrait above the visitor’s head), and the setting was identified by a contemporary as the artist’s Paris studio on the quai Bourbon” (op.cit.).

Note that the Rijksmuseum holds a very similar plate (with additional cross-hatching giving tone to the floor and other subtle variations) attributed to Jules Jacquet (1841–1913); see http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.627611.

Etching on parchment, proof before lettering for publication with remarque at lower centre, signed in pencil.

Size: (sheet) 30.5 x 21 cm; (plate) 20.7 x 15.7 cm; (image borderline) 14.7 x 11.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate within the image borderline: (upper left corner) “CHARLES WITTMANN/ 35 Rue Pourne […]”

Signed in pencil at right of remarque.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with generous margins in a very good condition with no tears, holes, folds (but there is unevenness intrinsic to the parchment), abrasions or significant stains (but, again, there is colour unevenness that is largely intrinsic to the parchment).

I am selling this exceptionally fine, pencil-signed and rare impression printed on parchment with a remarque before lettering for publication, for the total cost of AU$233 (currently US$152.73/EUR141.26/GBP120.98 at the time of posting 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 ultra-fine artist’s proof of the upmost rarity, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold