Antique Master Print-WATER NYMPH SALMACIS-HERMAPHRODITE-Coelemans-Lafage-1767

‘111. POSCENTI NYMPHAE, SINE SERERIA SALTEM … SALMACIS …’

The water nymph Salmacis with Hermaphrodite. (from Ovid)

Made by Jacques Coelemans after Raymond Lafage.

Etching / engraving on hand laid (verge) paper. Watermark: (present to be determined).

Sheet size: 22.5 x 21 cm (8.86 x 8.27 inch). Image size: 15.5 x 14.5 cm. (6.1 x 5.71 inch).

Condition: very good, given age. Some foxing. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

WATER NYMPH SALMACIS AND HERMAPHRODITE

PCO-B6-48

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

From: ‘Receuil d’Estampes d’apres les tableaux des peintres des plus celebres d’Italie, des Pays Bas et de France …’ by Jacques Coelemans, in the edition (3rd ed. after ed. by Coelamans and Mariette in 1709 and 1744) published by Basan & Poignant from 1767-1797. This series of prints document the collection of Jean-Baptiste Boyer d’Eguilles, the engraving of which was started by Sebastien Barras (1653-1703) and Boyer himself, who was also an amateur engraver. Jean-Baptiste Boyer, Marquis d’Eguilles (1650-1709) was a French aristocrat, lawyer and engraver. Jacobus Coelemans or Jacob Coelemans, known in France as Jacques Coelemans (Antwerp, 1654-Aix-en-Provence, 1732) was a Flemish engraver and printmaker, known for his reproductive prints after famous painters and portraits. He trained in his native Antwerp and moved to Aix-en-Provence in France in 1690 where he worked for the remainder of his life. He was a pupil of Frederik Bouttats the younger. In Aix he was hired by Jean-Baptiste Boyer d’Aguilles, his patron, Attorney General of the Provence and famous art collector to engrave his entire collection. His work is recognized for its brilliance, good understanding of chiaroscuro and accuracy. Rare.

Reference: (for the work) Greasse II, p.14; Dumesnil IV, p.213.

Raymond Lafage (1656-1684) was a Baroque French artist from the Island of Lisle-sur-Tam, notable for his mythological prints and drawings.