Description
Rare-Death of King Saul- Heliogravure – Amand-Durand –After Master of Boccaccio of Bruges– Durand Stamp
This impression is a heliogravure reproduction by CharlesAmand-Durand. The engraver of the print this work is after was called Master ofthe Boccaccio of Bruges, or Master of the Boccaccio Illustrations, or Master ofthe Subjects in Boccacio, because this master engraver in Netherlands created 9illustrations in a French translation of De la Ruine des Nobles Hommes et Femmes(Of the Ruin of Noble Men and Women) by Giovanni Boccacio (1313-1375) in 1476. Theoriginal prints were the first known book illustrations printed with engravings,and the current impression was after the third plate: Death of King Saul, whichis very rare nowadays. A known impression of the original is collected byMuseum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris, and MFA Boston has the book ofBoccaccio which contains a hand-colored impression of this print.
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: 9 × 7 in
- Technique: Heliogravure Etching
- Paper: Laid paper, with a circle watermark
- Condition: Excellent – strong impression, no noticeable damage, unframed
Provenance
· Bertolami Fine Art, Italy
· Ripley Auctions, USA
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.
