Artwork details

Artist

Title

Head of an Old Man with open Book

Description

This wonderful impression of one of the more intense and attractive heads from the series of philosophers or orientals has all the appearance of hand-printing by the artist. It has not been completely clean-wiped as a professional printer would do, but rather has a rich build-up of black ink in places, as well as touches of burr and unevenness, giving it the pleasing immediacy of an early proof.

From Raccolta di Teste, first series of 30, a compendium of the exotic and mystical male types who appear in so many of the prints and paintings of both father Giambattista and son Giandomenico. Before 1774.

A very early, rich proof, with inky plate edges and tone, wide margins all round. An early brown ink number showing through towards the top edge, a couple of other minor marks in the margins, otherwise in good condition.

Date

1773

Medium

Etching

Edition

Proof before number

Signature

Unsigned

Catalogue Raisonne

Rizzi 175, only state; Succi 524, second state of three, after reduction of the plate but before the number

Image

14.3 x 11.1 cm