Jean MORIN (c. 1605 - 1650): Antoine Vitré, typographer to the king and clergy of France

Price: € 2500

Etching, 317 x 219 mm. Robert-Dumesnil 88; Mazel 94, 3rd state (of 3); Hornibrook & Petitjean 49, 3rd state (of 4).

Impression of the 3rd state (of 3 according to Mazel), the small light areas in the upper right corner shaded with new lines. The inscription in pencil avant les tailles sur les cheveux [before the lines on the hair] on the reverse seems to us to be erroneous. The 4th state according to Hornibrook and Petitjean corresponds to a new biting of the plate, which they indicate without locating any impression.

A very fine impression printed on watermarked laid paper (coat of arms with fleurs-de-lys). A number 161 in pen and ink very discreetly added in the upper right corner. Excellent condition.

Provenances:

- François Xavier Lousbergs (died 1805), merchant in Ghent; handwritten mark in ink on the reverse accompanied by the date 1804 (Lugt 1694). The print appears in the catalogue of the sale of his prints that took place in Ghent in 1811 (p. 64, number 80, with no indication of state).

- Jules Michelin (1817-1870), painter and etcher; stamped mark in violet ink on verso.

- Other handwritten collector's mark (M... (?) and number 10).

Etched after Philippe de Champaigne (1602 - 1674), ‘this portrait is probably one of Jean Morin's most accomplished works.’ (Jean Mazel, p. 268, our translation). Antoine Vitré is best known for his use of oriental typefaces. He printed a monumental Polyglot Bible in Hebrew, Samaritan, Chaldean, Greek, Syriac, Latin and Arabic. Jean Morin's etching shows him leaning against a low wall with a composing stick and printing type, as well as a rolled print.

References: Jean Mazel and Hubert Prouté: Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre gravé de Jean Morin (ca. 1605-1650), 2004.