Louis
Surugue (c.1686–1762)
“The
Philosopher in Contemplation” (aka
“Le Philosophe en Contemplation”), 1754, after a painting by Salomon Koninck (aka Salomon Coninck; Salomon
Koning; Salomon Konink) (1609–1656) in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no.
1741), formerly attributed to Rembrandt (aka Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn)
(1606–1669), published in Paris by Louis Surugue with royal privilege (as
inscribed in the plate).
Etching with
engraving on fine laid paper backed with a support sheet.
Size: (sheet) 27.1
x 29.5cm; (plate) 25.4 x 28.1cm; (image borderline) 21.4 x 26.2cm.
Lettered in
plate below the image borderline: (left) “Rembrant Pinxit.”; (left of centre) “LE
PHILOSOPHE/ Gravé d'aprés le Tableau Original de Rembrant Peint sur/ Tiré du
Cabinet de Monsieur le Comte de Vence/ A Paris chez L. Surugue rue des Noyers
attenant”; (centre) [Comte de Vence coat-of-arms]; (right of centre) “EN
CONTEMPLATION/ bois haut de 10 pouces 3 lignes sur 12 et demi de large/ Marechal
de Camp des Armées du Roy./ and "A
Paris chez L. Surugue, Graveur du Roy./ le Magazin de Papier vis à vis St.
Yves avec Privil. du Roy”; (right) “Lud.us Surugue Sculp.1754.”
Nagler 54 (G.K. Nagler 1847, “Neues allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen, Zeichner, Medailleure, Elfenbeinarbeiter, etc. Sole, G. G.– Surugue, L.”, vol. 17, Munich, E A Fleischmann, p. 572).
Note that
Nagler (1847) advises that there are two related prints with the same title: (Transl.)
“[cat. no.] 54) Le philosophe en contemplation, after the picture by Rembrandt in
the Cabinet Vence, beautifully etched and engraved.” and “55) Le philosophe en
meditation, after Rembrandt's picture from the same collection, and counterpart
to the above.” (see vol. 17 p. 572).
The British
Museum offers the following description of this print: “Interior of a Dutch
vaulted room, with an old bearded philosopher sitting at a desk in front of a
window at left, wearing a soft cap and fur-trimmed robe, his chin resting on
right hand, a large book open before him, a curved staircase at right and a
globe and crucifix beside the table; after Salomon
Koninck but formerly attributed to Rembrandt; coat of arms of Comte de Vence in lower margin” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_F-6-168
[BM inv. no. F,6.168]).
Condition: a
strong and well-printed life-time impression with small margins around the
platemark and laid upon a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper
providing wide margins. Beyond minor handling marks in the margins, the sheet
is in an excellent condition with no significant stains or other issues.
I am selling
this curiously wonderful composition with a spiral staircase and two opposing
light sources separating a woman attending to a fireplace hearth with another lady
watching her, shown on the left, and a window-lit man (the philosopher) deeply
engaged in thought, shown on the right, for AU$282 in total (currently US$181.76/
EUR172.76/ GBP143.21 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$282) as this is my currency.
If you are
interested in purchasing this extraordinary etching capturing in a very graphic
way the tight spaces and dark interiors that were a part of everyday life in
the time of Rembrandt, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I
will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.
