Engraving Portrait Prints

Miss Taylor Drypoint, c. 1900 Signed in pencil lower left (see photo) Small edition, about 10 Very rich impression, full of burr Condition: Excellent Image size: 21-1/4 x 13-1/4" Sheet size: 25 3/8 x 18 5/8" Reference: Montesquiou XII Paul César Helleu was born in Vannes, Brittany, France. His father, who was a customs inspector, died when Helleu was in his teens. Despite opposition from his mother, he then went to Paris and studied at Lycée Chaptal. In 1876, at age 16, he was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts, beginning academic training in art with Jean-Léon Gérôme. Helleu attended the Second Impressionist Exhibition in the same year, and made his first acquaintances with John Singer Sargent, James McNeill Whistler, and Claude Monet. He was struck by their modern, bold alla prima technique and outdoor scenes, so far removed from the studio. Following graduation, Helleu took a job with the firm Théodore Deck Ceramique Française hand-painting fine decorative plates. At this same time, he met Giovanni Boldini, a portrait painter with a facile, bravura style, who became a mentor and comrade, and strongly influenced his future artistic style. When he was 18 years old, Helleu established a close friendship with John Singer Sargent, four years his senior, that was to last his lifetime. Already becoming established, Sargent was receiving commissions for his work. Helleu had not sold anything, and was deeply discouraged almost to the point of abandoning his studies. When Sargent heard this, he went to Helleu and picked one of his paintings, praising his technique. Flattered that Sargent would praise his work, he offered to give it to him. Sargent replied, "I shall gladly accept this, Helleu, but not as a gift. I sell my own pictures, and I know what they cost me by the time they are out of my hand. I should never enjoy this pastel if I hadn't paid you a fair and honest price for it." With this he paid him a thousand-franc note. Helleu was commissioned in 1884 to paint a portrait of a young woman named Alice Guérin (1870–1933). They fell in love, and married on 28 July 1886. Throughout their lives together, she was his favourite model. Charming, refined and graceful, she helped introduce them to the aristocratic circles of Paris, where they became popular fixtures. On a trip to London with Jacques-Émile Blanche in 1885, Helleu met Whistler again and visited other prominent artists. His introduction to James Jacques Tissot, an accomplished society painter from France who made his career in England, proved a revelation. In Tissot, Helleu saw, for the first time, the possibilities of drypoint etching with a diamond point stylus directly on a copper plate. Helleu quickly became a virtuoso of the technique, drawing with the same dynamic and sophisticated freedom with his stylus as with his pastels. His prints were very well received, and they had the added advantage that a sitter could have several proofs printed to give to relations or friends. Over the course of his career, Helleu produced more than 2,000 drypoint prints. Soon, Helleu was displaying works to much acclaim at several galleries. Degas encouraged him to submit paintings to the Eighth Impressionist Exhibition in May and June 1886. The show was installed in a Paris apartment at 1 rue Laffitte, which ran concurrently with the official Salon that year to make a statement. Although 17 artists joined the famous exhibit that included the first Neo-Impressionistic works, Helleu, like Monet, refused to participate. Paul Helleu Sketching with His Wife (1889), by John Singer Sargent, The Brooklyn Museum, New York In 1886, Helleu befriended Robert de Montesquiou, the poet and aesthete, who bought six of his drypoints to add to his large print collection. Montesquiou later wrote a book about Helleu that was published in 1913 with reproductions of 100 of his prints and drawings. This volume remains the definitive biography of Helleu. Montesquiou introduced Helleu to Parisian literary salons, where he met Marcel Proust, who also became a friend. Proust created a literary picture of Helleu in his novel Remembrance of Things Past as the painter Elstir. (Later, Helleu engraved a well-known portrait of Proust on his deathbed.) Montesquiou's cousin, the Countess Greffulhe, enabled Helleu to expand his career as a portrait artist to elegant women in the highest ranks of Paris society, portraits that provide the basis for his modern reputation. His subjects included the Duchess of Marlborough, the Marchesa Casati...

Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672 - 1733) was a Swiss traveller naturalist and geologist. His best known scientific works are his paleontological 'Lithographia Helvetica' (1726) and his 'Physica Sacra...

Max Beckmann (Leipzig 1884 – New York 1950), Portrait of Baron Simolin II (large version)(1928) Drypoint, 38 x 25 cm (plate), 48 x 40 cm (sheet), signed and dated lower right.

This is a 17th century portrait engraving of Saint Vincent de Paul by Gerard Edelinck (1640-1707) after a painting by Simon Francois (1606-1671), published in Charles Perrault's 'Les Hommes Illustres' in Paris in 1696. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was a French Catholic...

Etching and drypoint on cream laid paper, 4 x 3 3/8 inches (102 x 86 mm), 1/4 inch margins. Signed in the plate, lower left corner. The 3rd state (of 6), after the rounding of the pl...

(after Anthonie Van Dyck) Engraving on cream laid paper, 9 1/4 x 6 3/8 inches (234 x 161 mm), full margins. Water stain throughout bottom, diagonal creases in the area of the bottom right corner, paper tape along top edge on recto. A very well inked impression. __________Flemish painter and engraver Paulus Pontius was born in Antwerp in 1603, and it was in this city that his full life would unfold. At the young age of 13, he was apprenticed to the still life painter Osias Beert, and subsequently to Lucas Vosterman, who was heavily associated with the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens. Vosterman trained Pontius in the skill of engraving, which he took to immediately, finding he had great skill at recreating paintings. Pontius was able to capture the minutiae of light and shadow found on the canvas, and mastered the ability to accurately render the subtleties of brushwork in this alternate media. His success as an engraver cemented his role in the workshop of Rubens, and in 1624, when Vosterman found himself at odds with Rubens, and left Antwerp for England, Pontius assumed his role as foremost engraver in the workshop. It was in this year that Pontius took up lodgings in Rubens's home, and continued to live there until 1631, when courtship and marriage (the first of three) brought him away. After the death of Rubens in 1640, Pontius embarked on a very successful career engraving reproductions of master works by artists including Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens, Pieter van Avont, Abraham van Diepenbeeck...

A fine early 19th century coloured stipple engraving, titled Cyprian Volary by William Ward after George Morland. The engraving is exquisitely presented in a verre eglomise mount and...

A fine stipple engraving of Elizabeth, Countess of Derby. She stands in a blue taffeta cloak with fur trim, in a verdant landscape. The artist and en...

A striking mezzotint after the original painting by William Owen (1769-1825), showing the blind beggar of Bednall Green and a woman, with one hand on his shoulder, the other open and outstretched. The dedication and titular inscription is at the lower edge, completed with the artist's names and a short poem about the beggar in both French and English. The mezzotint has been presented in a fine late 19th Century Hogarth frame...

Woman's Head - Woman's Head in Profile (left) (Havard) Drypoint, 1920 Unsigned (as issued) From: The Drypoints of Elie Nadelman, 21 unpublished prints by the sculptor, proof from th...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after Holbein. Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouches. Originally published 1739, this impression c1820. 360mm by 230mm (platemark) Sir Thomas Smythe...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouc...

Paris: Gazette des Beaux Arts, 1892. Etching and dry point on cream laid paper. 7 9/16 x 5 7/8 inches (191 x 148 mm), full margins. Signed in pencil, lower right margin. A dark, ink...

Raul Cordero (Cuba, 1971) '32 hrs 53 min kcal: 783 fat: 35%', 2005 engraving on paper Guarro Biblos 250g. 26.8 x 33.3 in. (68 x 84.5 cm.) Edition of 10 ID...

Etching, engraving and stippling on cream laid paper with an indiscernible watermark in the sheet center, 11 15/16 x 8 3/16 inches (302 x 207 mm), trimmed at the plate mark. A very g...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after the painting by Gibson. Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical f...

This is a 17th century portrait engraving of Jean-Baptiste Racine by Gerard Edelinck (1640-1707), published in Charles Perrault's 'Les Hommes Illustres' in Paris in 1696. Jean Racine (1639-1699) was a French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, along with Molière and Corneille. Racine's works were primarily tragedies. He wrote Phèdre, Andromaque, and Athalie. He did write one comedy, Les Plaideurs, and a muted tragedy, Esther for young readers. His writing is renowned for its elegance, purity, speed, and fury. The American poet Robert Lowell described his style as a "diamond-edge" and the "glory of its hard, electric rage". Racine's works often displayed his psychological insight, the passion of his characters, and the stark reality of his plots and stage descriptions. In 1672, he was elected to the Académie Française, and two years later he achieved the title of "treasurer of France", and later the honorary title of an "ordinary gentleman of the king" to King Louis XIV, and subsequently a secretary of the king . This beautiful engraved portrait is printed on chain-linked, laid paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 17.13" high by 10.75" wide. There is a small spot in the lower margin and a few tiny faint spots in the margins, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. The original descriptive text pages, 81 & 82, are included. Provenance: This engraving was owned by Arthur Pomeroy, 1st Baron Harberton and the Viscount Harberton (1723-1798). He was an Irish politician, who represented County Kildare in the Irish House...

Self-Portrait Leaning Forward Bust is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belongs to a l...

Etching with drypoint on cream wove paper, 11 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches (297 x 347 mm), full margins. Signed in pencil and numbered 32/40, lower margin. Minor mat tone and several small lo...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780) after Peter Lely. Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouches. Originally published 1739, this impression c1820. 360mm by 230mm (platemark) Henry Bennet, 1st earl of Arlington, 1618-85, was an English statesman who fought for the royalists in the English civil war...

Work on paper without frame

Engraving on hand made laid paper, 8 1/2 x 5 7/8 inches (210 x 148 mm), thread margins. An approximately 1-inch vertical repaired tear extends into the image area at the top center ...

'Magone Cartaginese' (Magone of Carthage) Copper-line engraving by Pazzi after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italian painter and engraver from Florence, active under the patronage of the House of Medici. Illustration of an Ancient Roman marble bust from 'Musei Capitolini', a series of engravings showing the sculpture of the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Mago I, also known as Magon, was the king of the Ancient Carthage...

'Cicerone' (Cicero) Copper-line engraving by C Gregory after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Ita...

Self-Portrait, Frowning is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belongs to a late edition...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouches. Originally published 1739, this impression c1820. 360mm by 230mm (platemark) Henry Howard...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouc...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouches. Originally published 1739, this impression c1820. 360mm by 230mm (platemark) Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington was the English lord...

Copper-line engraving by Jacobus Houbraken (1698-1780). Houbraken was a Dutch engraver famous for his series of portraits of famous English historical figures with elaborate cartouc...

A Man Making Water is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This wonderful piece of art belongs to a late ed...

Self Portrait. 1920. Etching and drypoint. Dodgson 138. 6 1/8 x 5 (sheet 13 1/4 x 11). Edition 105. A rich impression with plate tone, printed on cream wove paper. Slight toning in ...

'Ippocrate' (Hippocratus) Copper-line engraving by Pazzi after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giova...

The Bathers is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belongs to a late edition of the 19th...

A fine 18th Century mezzotint, showing Lord William Newbottle and his sister, Lady Elisabeth Kar, as children, holding a dove. This mezzotint, by Valentine Green (1739-1813) is after the original painting by Catherine Read (1723-1778). The print has been attractively presented in a 19th Century Hogarth...

Self-portrait in a Cloak with a Falling Collar: Bust is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized after an etching by Rembrandt by charles Amand Durand (1831-1905). This wonderful...

'Omero' (Homer) Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italian painter and engraver from Florence, active under the patronage of the House of Medici. Illustration of an Ancient Greek marble...

"Bacco' (Bacchus) Copper-line engraving by Silvestro Pomared after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italian painter and engraver from Florence, active under the patronage of the House of Medici. Illustration of an Ancient Greek marble...

Head of a Man with Turban is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This wonderful piece of art belongs to a ...

The rest on the Flight into Egypt is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by...

Old Man with Flowing Beard, Looking down Left is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art bel...

Engraving on paper without frame

'Massinissa re de' Numidi' Copper-line engraving by Guttierez after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was...

'Virgilio' (Virgil) Copper-line engraving by Silvestro Pomared after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) wa...

The Artist's Mother, Head and Bust is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belongs to a l...

'Apollonio Tianeo' (Apollonius of Tyana) Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campigl...

The Race is an Original Etching and Drypoint realized by Robert Naly (1900-1984). Good condition on a yellowed paper . Hand-signed by the artist on the lower right corner.

Self-Portrait in a Cap, Laughing is an etching on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This wonderful piece of art belongs ...

'Saffo' (Sappho) Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italian painter and engraver from Florence, active under the patronage of the House of Medici. Illustration of an Ancient Greek marble bust from 'Musei Capitolini', a series of engravings showing the sculpture of the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Sappho was an Archaic Greek...

'Euripide Poeta Tragico' (Euripides, Tragic Poet) Copper-line engraving by Nicola Billy after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico...

A Peasant Calling Out: "tis vinnich kout" (It's biting cold) is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This w...

Self-Portrait with a Scarf Around His Neck is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This wonderful piece of ...

Self-Portrait is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belongs to a late edition of the 19...

Self-portrait wearing a soft cap full face is an engraving on ivory-colored paper realized by Charles Amand Durand (1831-1905) after an etching by Rembrandt. This piece of art belong...

'Pindaro' (Pindar) Copper-line engraving by Silvestro Pomared after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. ...

'Omero' (Homer) Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italian painter and engraver from Florence, active under the patronage of the House of Medici. Illustration of an Ancient Greek marble...

'Massinissa re de' Numidi' Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768)...

Dancers is an Original Etching and Drypoint realized by Robert Naly (1900-1984) Good condition on a yellowed paper. Edition of 3/25. Hand-signed and numbered on the lower margin.

'Pitodoride' Copper-line engraving by Carlo Gregori after Giovanni Domenico Campiglia. Plate number top right corner of image. Giovanni Domenico Campiglia (1692–1768) was an Italia...