Ferdinand Gaillard, “Crepuscule”, 1876, after Michelangelo (3rd copy)

Ferdinand Gaillard (aka Claude Ferdinand Gaillard) (1834-87)

“Crepuscule” (aka “Dusk”; “La Vierge de la Maison d'Orléans” [British Museum title]), 1876, after Michelangelo’s marble sculpture, “Dusk”, from the “Tomb of Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici” in the Medici Chapel (Florence). This is an impression before the addition of lettered publication details for “La Gazette des Beaux-Arts”, 1876, and the printer’s note for Charles Chardon aîné (fl.1850s). Interestingly, the “Inventaire du Fonds, Français” (IFF) advises that only two impressions were made of this state (before the addition of the publication details); see (cat. no. 51) https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5489221t/f329.

Engraving on buff-coloured chine collé (China) paper on thick white wove paper, with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.3 x 28 cm; (platemarks) 17.5 x 24 cm; (chine collé) 16.1 x 22.4 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower right) “Gaillard d’après Michel Ange”.

State iv (of v) showing the addition of the artist’s name after Michelangelo, but before the addition of publication details of state v.

Beraldi 32 (Henri Beraldi 1887, “Les Graveurs du Dix-Neuvième Siècle: DORÉ –GAVARD”, vol. VI, Paris, Librairie L. Conquet, p. 202, cat. no. 32 [see https://archive.org/details/lesgraveursdu19e06berauoft/page/202/mode/2up]); IFF 51 (Jean Adhémar & Jacques Lethève 1954, “Inventaire du Fonds, Français: Graveurs du XVIIe Siècle”, Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Département des Estampes, vol. 8, p. 317, cat. no. 51).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Dusk as a nude bearded man reclining on a curved pediment; after the statue designed by Michelangelo for the tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici in San Lorenzo, Florence; published in 'La Gazette des Beaux-Arts', January 1876/ Engraving on chine collé” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2006-U-1329).

Condition: an incredibly delicate impression—so finely executed that, without examining the print with the aid of a jeweller’s loupe, I struggle to see how it was engraved—with small margins and laid upon a sheet of millennium quality washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond minor surface grubbiness and a few nicks, the sheet is in a very good condition with no tears or significant stains.

I am selling this technically superb engraving that is one of the only two impressions from the rare 4^th state, by (arguably) the most skilful (or at least one of the most skilful) of the 19^th century master engravers, for a total cost of $282 (currently US$191.98/EUR173.20/GBP145.64 at the time of posting 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$282) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this engraved translation of Michelangelo’s famous sculpture into line, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that this is the third impression of this print that I have posted. The previous impressions have been sold.

This print has been sold