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Antoine Masson's original engraving, "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary" to the King, dates from 1670. To say the least it is a rare printing, containing perfectly registered impressions on both the recto and verso of the paper. Why this magnificent portrait was printed in this manner is beyond my speculation, but one can safely assume that it was done for an important collection at that time. The Art Institute of Chicago, Harvard University Art Gallery, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco house impressions of "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary" in their permanent collections. Their engravings, of course, do not contain the unique verso and recto printings. |
| Title: | Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King | ||||||
| Engraver: | Masson, Antoine (Loury (Orleans), 1636 - Paris, 1700) | ||||||
| Designer: | Blanchet, Thomas (Paris, c. 1617 - Lyons, 1681) | ||||||
| Date: | 1670 | ||||||
| Medium: | Original Line Engravings: A Unique Printing Bearing an Impression on Both Sides of the Paper | ||||||
| Note: | Antoine Masson: When one examines the art of the great triumvirate of French, seventeenth century portrait engravers -- Robert Nanteuil, Antoine Masson and Gerard Edelinck -- what emerges is their unequalled mastery of line, tone and texture. Originally trained as an engraver of armour, Antoine Masson moved to Paris at an early age. G. C. Williamson writes, "he applied himself to drawing with great assiduity and acquired some celebrity in painting and designing portraits. But he is principally distinguished as an engraver; and in some of his plates, particularly his portraits, he reached an excellence which has seldom been surpassed. He worked entirely with the graver, which he handled with surprising firmness and facility, and at the same time with the utmost delicacy." * Antoine Masson became a member of the Academy in Paris in 1679. | ||||||
| "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King", is ranked among Masson's masterpieces. His other famous engraved portraits include those of the Count d'Harcourt (called the "Cadet de le perle"), Maria Theresa, Queen of France, Guillaume de Brisacier, Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, Philip, Duke of Orleans, and King Louis XIV. | |||||||
| Thomas Blanchet: A portrait and historical painter, Thomas Blanchet studied under Poussin and Andrea Sacchi. Much of his early career was spent in Italy, but by 1660 he had settled in Lyons. Blanchet made frequent trips to Paris and was commissioned to contribute paintings to the cathedral of Notre-Dame. Thomas Blanchet was admitted into the Academy as a portrait painter, in 1676, and as a historical painter, in 1682. He also founded the Academy at Lyons in 1681. His paintings are included in the collection of the Louvre. | |||||||
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| Provenance: | From the George Binet Print Collection. George Binet (died, Brimfield, MA, 1962) was a prominent collector. He also founded and directed the George Binet Gallery on East 57th Street, New York City. | ||||||
| Reference: | * G. C. Williamson, Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, London, Bell & Sons, 1927, Vol. 3, pp. 298 & 299. (Quotation on p. 298.) | ||||||
| Raisonne: | A. P. F. Robert-Dumesnil, Le peintre-graveur francais, Paris, 1835-71. Robert-Dumesnil 16, Third and Final State. The First and Second states are extremely rare and may be viewed as working proofs, as the lettering and additions to the sitter's clothing have yet to be added. As well, no mention is made of a date. This pair of original impressions of "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King" bear no date, as the case with the engravings in three of the four museums cited in the introductory paragraph. The exception is the impression housed at the Bibliotheque Nationale and illustrated in Jean Laran's, L'Estampe (see above). Here, to the lower right the following words are printed, "Ant. Masson Sculpsit 1670". There thus may possibly be a Fourth State. |
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| Size: | 13 3/4 X 10 3/8 (Each) (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) | ||||||
| Framed and (Matted with 100% Archival Materials on Both Sides) | |||||||
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| Buy Now | Price: $2,900.00 US | ||||||
| Condition: | Printed (on both sides) upon fine hand-made, 17th century laid paper and with margins extending about 1/2 of an inch from the plate-mark on all sides. Containing one slight scuff mark which appears on the recto above Gaspar Charrier's right shoulder and, on the verso, within his left shoulder, else richly printed, luminous impressions bearing all the fine lines of a very early printing. "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King" represents a prime, original example of the engraved art of Antoine Masson and a unique example of seventeenth century printmaking techniques. | ||||||
| Subject: | Antoine Masson, Thomas Blanchet, "Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King", original engravings, unique impression, impressions on both the recto and verso of the paper, Printed (on both sides), Academy in Paris, George Binet Print Collection. | ||||||
| Important Information: | The artist biographies, research and or information pertaining to all the original works of art posted on our pages has been written and designed by Greg & Connie Peters exclusively for our site, (www.artoftheprint.com). Please visit us regularly to view the latest artworks offered for sale. We will soon be posting an update of our most recent research and include the biographical and historical information pertaining to our next collection of original works of art created by artists throughout the centuries. We hope you found the information you were looking for and that it has been beneficial. Our Gallery, (Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com) guarantees the authenticity of every work of art we sell 100%. Full documentation and certification is provided. We offer a wide selection of international fine art dating from the early Renaissance to the contemporary art period. |
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Original Engravings by the French artist, Antoine Masson designed by Thomas Blanchet.
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| Gaspar Charrier, Secretary to the King |
| (Two impressions printed on both the recto & verso of the same paper) |
| Selected Directories in our Gallery (Art of The Print / www.artoftheprint.com), with a focus on the area of interest for this original work of art. | |
| Art of the Print / www.artoftheprint.com sells international fine art. Our collection consists of original paintings, watercolors, drawings, and original prints, such as etchings, engravings, lithographs, woodcuts, silk-screens, aquatints, mezzotints, linocuts, monoprints, and other mediums of original art. All of these works of art have been created by prominent and established painters, illustrators, watercolour artists and printmakers from around the world. The art in our gallery ranges from the early Renaissance period to the modern and contemporary art period. You can view other original artworks similar to the subject under discussion on this page listed in the following art directories. | |
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| Old Master Artist Index | The 'Old Master' artist directory contains a selection of original works of art created by international painters, illustrators and graphic artists. These original works date from the Renaissance period to the end of the 1700's. |
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| Royalty Portrayed in Art Index | The 'Royalty, Nobility, Palaces and Castles' directory contains a selection of original art depicting portraits of Kings and Queens, as well as a variety of portrayals of nobles holding the title of Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess, Count, Countess, etc., and scenes depicting royal ceremonies. Also included is a listing of original artworks with depictions of and castles and palaces. The artworks date from the 16th century to the 20th century. |
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