John Watkins, “Le Pape Boniface VIII”, 1879

John Watkins (1854? –1908)

“Le Pape Boniface VIII” (aka “Le Pape Boniface VIII. Buste Italien en bronze attribué au Bernin” [title inscribed in plate]), 1879, after the bronze by Domenico Guidi (1625–1701), “Bust of Pope Alexander VIII”, c.1690, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (see https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O151956/pope-alexander-viii-bust-domenico-guidi/)—not after a bronze attributed to Bernini/Bernin (1598–1680) as inscribed in the plate—printed by Albert Quantin (aka Ancienne Maison Quantin; Maison Quantin; Albert Marie Jérôme Quantin) (1850–1930) and published in Paris in the art periodical, “L'Art”, 1879.

Etching with engraving and plate tone on cream laid paper (Arches watermark) with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 43.9 x 29.7 cm; (plate) 26 x 18.7 cm; (image borderline) 24.4 x 16.8 cm.

Lettered in plate above the image borderline: (centre) “(South Kensington Museum)”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “L'Art”; (centre) “LE PAPE BONIFACE VIII/ Buste Italien en bronze attribué au Bernin”; (right) “John Watkins aquaf/ Imp. A. Quantin”.

The British Museum offers a description of this print (not reproduced): https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1880-0214-133.

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (faultless) impression with generously wide margins showing no sign of wear to the printing plate. Beyond slight unevenness to the colour of the sheet, the sheet is in an excellent (near pristine) condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this stunningly strong etching of a bronze bust of Pope Alexander VIII, for AU$214 (currently US$139.47/EUR129.38/GBP110.88at 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 exceptionally fine etching showing the highest order of skill in its execution, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.