Early 1800s Nicolaes Berchem Engraving ; Pastoral Landscape Cows Sheep Goats

Description: Antique early 19th century engraving after a drawing by Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes P. Berchem. ( signed in the plate at the lower-left, with the alternate spelling " Berghem ") " Le Retour Des Animaux " ( Return of the Animals ) Designed by Pierre Antoine Marchais ( 1763 - 1859 ), French Landscape painter and topographical draughtsman. Engraved by Friedrich Geissler (1778-1853), German graphic artist, etcher and copper engraver. Published in Paris , France , in the early 19th century. Undated, however this is probably the 1818 printing. About 200 Years Old. 15 1/2" x 16 5/8" overall ( including the margins ) The image itself is 10 3/8" x 12 9/16" As evening approaches in a pastoral woodland landscape, a group of peasants return with the farm animals ; cattle , goats, sheep, and one little burro. There is a great outcrop of rock in the distance. In the foreground the horned cows and goats pause as they cross a narrow stream. A woman carries a squirmy lamb - perhaps it wants a drink or just to run free. Another woman rides a strong but docile cow , a bundle of firewood perched on its back. At the right a shepherd plays a flute to help keep his sheep calm and moving. At the left, bringing up the rear, a man carries a bundle of firewood on his own back, closely followed by a faithful hound dog. Condition This antique engraving has condition issues. Staining toward the bottom. Light to moderate foxing. Damaged in the margin in the area of the title ( horizontal loss of surface, loss of title lettering ). ( see the photos ) Note: a former owner glued this engraving to a sheet of foam-board. Other than some foxing and a little other staining, the image itself is in good condition; it is in the margins that the heavy staining and damage occurs. This engraving has been glued, by a former owner, to a sheet of foam board. Carefully Packed for Shipment to the Buyer. ------------- Biographical Information : Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem ( 1620 - 1683 ) was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, often populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces. Berchem was a member of the second generation of " Dutch Italianate landscape " painters. These were artists who travelled to Italy , or aspired to, in order to soak up the romanticism of the country, bringing home sketchbooks full of drawings of classical ruins and pastoral imagery. His paintings were in great demand, as were his etchings and drawings. His landscapes, painted in the Italian style of idealized rural scenes, with hills, mountains, cliffs and trees in a golden dawn are sought after. Berchem also painted inspired and attractive human and animal figures (staffage) in works of other artists, like Allaert van Everdingen , Jan Hackaert , Gerrit Dou , Meindert Hobbema and Willem Schellinks. Born in Haarlem , Netherlands , on Oct. 1, 1620, he received instruction from his father still-life painter Pieter Claesz ( 1597 - 1660 ), and from the painters Jan van Goyen, Pieter de Grebber, Jan Baptist Weenix, Jan Wils and Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert. He adopted the name Berchem as an adult. According to Houbraken, Carel de Moor told him that Berchem got his name from two words "Berg hem" for "Save him!", an expression used by his fellows in Van Goyen's workshop whenever his father chased him there with the intent to beat him. Today his name is assumed to come from his father's hometown of Berchem, Antwerp. He traveled to Italy with Jan Baptist Weenix, whom he called his cousin, in 1642-1645. Works by him are signed both as " Berghem " and " Berchem ". In 1645 he became a member of the Dutch reformed church and married the year after. According to Houbraken he married the daughter of the painter Jan Wils , who kept him on a short allowance, but to finance his collection of prints he would borrow money from his pupils and colleagues and pay them back from the proceeds of paintings . Around 1650 he travelled to Westphalia with Jacob van Ruisdael, where a dated piece showing Burg Bentheim is recorded. Perhaps Berchem went to Italy after this trip and before he moved to Amsterdam - he is not clearly documented in the Netherlands between 1650 and 1656. Around 1660 he worked for the engraver Jan de Visscher designing an atlas. In 1661-1670 he is registered in Amsterdam and in 1670 he moved back to Haarlem, but was living back in Amsterdam by 1677, where he died on Feb. 18, 1683. Bercham was a popular teacher with accomplished pupils ; Abraham Begeyn , Johannes van der Bent , his son Nicolaes , Isaack Croonenbergh , Simon Dubois , Karel Dujardin , Johannes Glaube r, Pieter de Hooch , Jacob van Huchtenburg , Justus van Huysum , Dirk Maas , Hendrick Mommers , Jacob Ochtervelt , Willem Romeyn and possibly Jan Frans Soolmaker. He was the uncle of Govert van der Leeuw and his brother Pieter. The French Rococo painter Jean-Baptiste Pillement was influenced by Bercham's works, as was the Dutch ' Cleves Romanticism ' landscape painter, Barend Cornelis Koekkoek.

Price: 26.5 USD

Location: Coventry, Rhode Island

End Time: 2024-09-03T16:44:11.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD