Jules Jacquemart, “German 12th Century Triptych”, 1861

Jules Jacquemart (aka Jules Ferdinand Jacquemart) (1837–1880)

“German 12^th Century Triptych” (aka “Triptyqve Allemand XII^ME Siecle” [as lettered in plate]), 1861, printed by Delâtre (possibly Auguste Delâtre [aka Auguste Marie Delâtre] [1822–1907]) and published in Paris in the art periodical, “Gazette des Beaux-Arts” (15^th May, 1861) between pages 218 and 219.

I believe that this triptych was exhibited in the “special exhibition of works of art of the medieval, Renaissance, and more recent periods” at the South Kensington Museum in June 1862, as the catalogue of this exhibition, published by the Museum in 1863, describes the following item: “No. 1,089. Triptych of gilt metal. In the centre is a double cross, with crystals for relics, supported by two angels in high relief; below is a tablet of enamel work representing the Maries at the Tomb; on the leaves are six square enamelled plaques, each containing busts of two apostles, with their names inscribed; in the upper angles are two angels. The figures are in colours, with gilt faces on a gold background. German work, 12th century. (Soltykoff collection, 26.) Height, 13 in.; width, l0 in.” (see p. 76, cat. no. 1089: https://archive.org/details/catalogueofspeci00sout/page/75/mode/1up).

Etching with dot-roulette work printed in a brown ink with pale plate-tone on fine laid paper with the centrefold of publication flattened and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 28.2 x 32.1 cm; (platemark [soft]) 26.1 x 29.9 cm; (image borderline) 24 x 27.5 cm.

Lettered in plate: (above triptych at left) “TRIPTYQVE/ XII^ME”; (above triptych at right) “ALLEMAND/ SIECLE”; (below triptych at left) “Gazette des Beaux arts”: (below triptych at centre) “Jules Jacquemart”; (below triptych at right) “Imp de Delalre [Delâtre]”.

Beraldi 2 (Henri Béraldi 1889, “Les Graveurs du XIXe Siècle: Guide de l'Amateur d'Estampes Modernes: GUERIN–LACOSTE”, vol. VIII, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 199, cat. no. 2 [Objets de Curiosité); IFF 2-2 (Jean Adhémar & Jacques Lethève 1954, “Inventaire du Fonds Français après 1800”, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, cat. no. 2-2).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “German triptych from the 12th century from the collection of Prince Soltykoff; with seated saints on the side panels and Christ and angels on the central panels; published in "Gazette des Beaux-Arts" in May 1861/ Etching with surface tone” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0610-894).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with overpainted/retouched stains at upper centre and minor marks in the right margin. The centrefold of publication is flattened and the sheet is laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this finely rendered and visually arresting etching of a small (approx. 32 cm high) 12^th century German gilt metal triptych featuring enamel work and a crystal reliquary in the form of a double cross, for the total cost of AU $179 (currently/approximately US $117.38/EUR 109.56/GBP 93.65 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. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $179) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this extraordinarily fine etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.