Jacques CALLOT: Les Deux grandes vues de Paris : Vue du Louvre and Vue du Pont-Neuf - 1629/1630
Price: € 10 000 for the pair
View of the Louvre:
Etching, 161 x 339 mm (sheet). Lieure 667, 2nd state (of 5).
Impression of the 2nd state (of 5), with Callot’s name but before Israël Silvestre’s address in the lower margin and before the rework, for example on the fleurs-de-lys.
Very fine impression printed on watermarked laid paper (watermark: crowned interlaced Cs and countermark with number 4 and cross of Lorraine (Lieure 29 and 34)). Impression trimmed to the borderline or 1 mm outside this line and 2 mm outside at bottom. In very good condition. Central vertical fold, barely visible.
View of the Pont-Neuf:
Etching, 160 x 337 mm (sheet). Lieure 668, 2nd state (of 5).
Impression of the 2nd state (of 5), with Callot’s name but before Israël Silvestre’s address in the lower margin and before the rework.
Very fine impression printed on watermarked laid paper (watermark: crowned interlaced Cs and lion with a star (Lieure 29 and 38)). Impression trimmed to the borderline or 1 mm outside this line and 2 mm outside at bottom. In very good condition. Trace of a vertical fold at left, barely visible, small repaired surface abrasion on verso, tiny pale stains on left side.
“Callot drew these views during his stay in Paris in 1628-1630, they were probably engraved after his return to Nancy and it does not even seem that the copperplates were sent to Paris, to Israël, as the impressions of the first two states are generally on paper with interlaced Cs watermark (see watermark 29 and 30 and also 33 and 34). None of the impression bears Israël (Henriet)’s excudit. It was only later that Israël Silvestre’s address was added to the plates.” (Lieure, p. 28, translated by us)
Impressions of the 1st state are of the greatest rarity (noted RRRR in Lieure's catalogue). As for the proofs bearing Callot's name, Lieure notes that "it is rare to find them in good and equal impressions". "In the good impressions [of the View of the Louvre] one can see, above the roof of the 2nd house on the left, numerous small black dots caused by the acid, which passed under the poorly applied varnish" (translated by us). These small dots are clearly visible in our impression. Above all, the farthest backgrounds are very sharp, without any wear. In the 4th state of the View of the Pont-Neuf, the backgrounds are worn, particularly in the left-hand part: on the contrary, they are very well preserved in our impression.
These two views of Paris are among Jacques Callot's most beautiful and famous prints. The View of the Louvre, with the Porte de Nesle and Tour de Nesle on the left and the Galerie du Louvre on the right, depicts a nautical festival held in Paris on 25 August. Jousts were organised on the Seine. The View from the Pont-Neuf offers a snapshot of daily activity on the left bank of the Seine: "On the left flows the river in which horses are bathing, among the boats of laundresses and wood merchants" (Lieure, translated by us). In the background, you can easily make out Notre-Dame de Paris, the Pont-Neuf, the houses of the Place Dauphine facing the statue of Henri IV and, further to the left, the Saint-Jacques tower.