Description
The Censer– Heliogravure – Amand-Durand – After MartinSchongauer Engraving – with Durand Stamp
This impression is a heliogravure reproduction by CharlesAmand‑Durand, based on Martin Schongauer’s circa 1470–1491 engraving The Censer ( Hollstein vol. XLIX, p. 217, no. 106; Lehrs 106; B. VI.162.107 ).Produced in 1878, this copy bears Amand‑Durand’s red collector’s stamp (Lugt2934) on the verso.
Schongauer’s The Censer is a celebrated work heldin major collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and showsSchongauer’s mastery in engraving and ornamentation. The original engravings bySchongauer are rare and highly prized in today’s market.
Amand‑Durand’s high-end heliogravures faithfullyreplicate these masterpieces at a fraction of the cost, while his red-stampedimpressions are especially collectible, distinguishing them from later,unmarked printings
About Amand-Durand and His Heliogravures Charles Amand-Durand (1831–1905) was a renowned Parisian engraver, publisher,and the inventor of the heliogravure technique. In the late 1860s, commissionedby the Louvre Museum, he sought ways to preserve and restore worn prints by theOld Masters. Discovering that many original plates were too degraded to yieldquality impressions, he turned to the newly developed heliogravure process tocreate meticulous facsimiles from early, high-quality impressions housed in majorprint collections.
His method involved photographic transfer to alight-sensitive copper plate, followed by manual refinement of intricate linesand tonal areas. Each piece required months of preparation, resulting inreproductions so exact that even experienced curators were occasionally fooled.Amand-Durand’s heliogravures are therefore regarded not merely asreproductions, but as works of art in their own right.
To mark his work ethically and confidently, Amand-Durandapplied a red stamp ( Lugt 2934 ) to the back of each heliogravure. Afterhis death in 1905, many of his copperplates were reused by others—but withoutthe stamp, leading to confusion in the collecting world. For this reason,stamped impressions are the most desirable and collectible today.
Print Details
- Image Size: 12.5 × 9.25 in
- Technique: Heliogravure Etching
- Paper: Laid paper with VANGELDER watermark
- Condition: Excellent – strong impression, no noticeable damage, unframed
Provenance
- Ripley Auctions
Inscriptions
- Lower part: M+S
Disclaimer: I have conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracy and attribution ofthis piece to the best of my ability. However, it is sold as is, with noguarantees or warranties regarding authorship or provenance.
