Noël François Bertrand, “Plate 4”, 1830, after Gédéon François Reverdin

Noël François Bertrand (1784–1852)

“Plate 4: Study of the Lower Features of Two Faces” (descriptive title only), 1830, crayon-manner stipple engraving after a drawing by Gédéon François Reverdin (1772–1828), published in Paris in 1830 by G.F. Reverdin as an illustration to “Cours complet d'études pour la figure: d'après les plus beaux modèles de l'antiquité et les tableaux des grands maîtres” (Complete course of studies for the figure: based on the most beautiful models of antiquity and the paintings of the great masters) (see https://archive.org/details/gri_33125009329638/page/n55/mode/2up).

Crayon-manner stipple engraving on laid paper with wide margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 31 x 39.5 cm; (plate) 25.2 x 32.1 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left) “III: C:”; (upper right) “Pl. 4.”; (lower left) “G. Reverdin del^t”; (lower centre) “A Paris, chez Reverdin rue du Sentier N^o.15. Et chez les principaux M^ds. d’Estampes. […] Déposé a la Bibliotheque. Imp^le.”; (lower right) “N. Bertrand Sc^t”.

I understand that the publication was issued as a series of twelve notebooks (see p. 2:  https://archive.org/details/gri_33125009329638/page/(2)/mode/2up) and that this plate must be from one of the first five notebooks, as the introductory text advises: (transl.) “ To facilitate study, we took care, in the first five notebooks, to engrave next to the line alone the same shaded part; by this means, the student will have the advantage of seeing the clearly drawn line in his model, and will at the same time be able to know the real shape of the object, by casting his eyes on the same shaded part” (ibid).

The British Museum offers the following description of the publication: “Premiers Élémens du Dessin au Trait. Pour servir d'introduction au Cours complet d'Etudes pour la Figure […] containing 74 numbered plates showing details of faces, hands, feet and limbs from classical sculptures and Old Master paintings for the use of artists, after drawings by G. Reverdin. Including 6 plates from a ‘Supplément’, 6 plates depicting Christian saints after Leonardo, Romano, Raphael and others, and engraved titlepage with profiles of faces and a laurel wreath inscribed ‘Raphael’ and ‘L. de Vinci’ (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1869-0410-1705-1778).

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this remarkably fine stipple engraving designed as a drawing model for art students in the early 1800s to copy, for AU$222 in total (currently/approximately US$146.41/ EUR135.87/ GBP116.86 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$222) as this is my currency.

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