CALLOT (Jacques). - Lot 2

CALLOT (Jacques). [Les Gueux], [La Noblesse] and [Les Grands Apôtres]. Paris : Israël Henriet, 1631 ; Israël Silvestre, [between 1661 and 1691]. - three small volumes in-4, 215 x 136 and 203 x 145: 25, 26 and 15 plates. Mottled or marbled brown calf, ornate ribbed spines, red edges on the first volume, mottled edges on the other two (late 17th-century binding). Meaume, Recherches sur la vie et les ouvrages de Jacques Callot, nos. 104-109, 671-709, 881 and 1209-1219. - Lieure, Jacques Callot, catalog raisonné de son œuvre gravé, nos. 479-503, 535-536, 549-560, 1297-1312 and 1385. - Brunet, Manuel..., I, col. 1491-1492. Exceptional collection of three suites by Jacques Callot, master etcher. I. Les Gueux, one of the artist's most famous suites. Also called Les Mendiants or Les Baroni (after the first plate, titled Capitano de baroni), it comprises a frontispiece (145 x 93) and 24 plates (approx. 137-139 x 86-91). The frontispiece and the plate showing two beggars in rags are the only two prints in the series with backgrounds. Composed around 1622-1623 on his return from Italy, where the artist from Lorraine had apprenticed and earned his reputation as a draughtsman and engraver, this colorful suite expresses "admirably the physiognomy of these unfortunate people whose misery does not stop their evil instincts, and whose faces reflect both fatigue and suffering, envy and anger. [...] No suite has been more copied, more imitated, in every way. Not only have engravers reproduced them, but these figures have been sculpted, painters have imitated them; they have even been portrayed on plates, dishes, vases and so on. Their influence was considerable, and people will always talk about Callot's Gueux" (Lieure). The frontispiece, titled Capitano de Baroni, is in the second state described by Meaume, engraved with I. Silvestre ex.cum. Privil. Regis après Iacomo Callot inv. et fec. Israël Silvestre (1621-1691), nephew of the painter Israël Henriet (c. 1590-1661) and Callot's friend and publisher, inherited the copperplates on his uncle's death. He also acquired the share belonging to Callot's widow, probably around 1661, and continued to print until his death. After a number of ups and downs, the copperplates fell into the hands of the silversmith Fagnani around 1699, who numbered them and continued to print them throughout the first quarter of the 18th century. They are now in the Musée Lorrain in Nancy. II. La Noblesse, followed by various pieces: 12 untitled prints, including 10 signed Callot (142-145 x 92-94), followed by 14 prints from several series. "Charming series of twelve etchings [6 men and 6 women] showing us the costumes of the lords and ladies of Lorraine in Callot's time. The artist has embellished these compositions by adding backgrounds depicting scenes related to the main character" (Lieure). According to some accounts, Callot and his best friends are represented in this suite. The plates, printed on watermarked laid paper bearing the coat of arms of Charles IV of Lorraine, are in their second state, with Israël Silvestre's excudit on the plate of the warrior with hat. The series of four Bourgeoises dans différentes attitudes (première suite), "pièces non chiffrées que Mariette dit avoir été commencées par Callot et qui sont restées inachevées" (unencrypted pieces that Mariette says were begun by Callot and remained unfinished), is bound in the suite. On the four pieces, on the left, we read: J. Callot in. f., first state described by Meaume (no. 1209-1212). These are "La Dévideuse et la Fileuse" (79 x 66 mm), "Deux dames de condition debout" (79 x 69 mm) and the "Fantaisies" plate showing three women carrying a basket, a child and a hood (59 x 80 mm). Finally, the volume ends with the second suite of Bourgeoises dans différentes attitudes, a complete series of 7 plates "falsely attributed to Callot and unquestionably engraved by Israël Henriet" (145-155 x 92-102 mm; Meaume, 1213-1219). The plate depicting a woman showing her young daughter is in its second state (of three), with the mention Israël fecit. III. The Great Apostles standing, adorned with beautiful historiated backgrounds. It comprises 16 prints (139-145 x 88-98 mm): an engraved title, 3 plates depicting the Savior, the Virgin and Saint Paul, and 12 plates depicting the Apostles. Particularly noteworthy are the backgrounds depicting an episode from their lives and their martyrdom. The title reads Salvatoris Beatae Mariae Virginis Sanctorum Apostolorum Icones. A. I. Callot Inventae, Sculptae, et a Israele amico suo in lucem editae. TO P