Featured Antique Engraving, Anyone know this artist?

Just want to make sure its not a Rembrandt or something like that! I doubt anyone will know, but figured it's worth a shot if anyone is familiar with old engravings. Thanks for any help!

 

Where did you get it? And what were you told about it?

Debora

 

Looks like an etching to me. Maybe a book illustration?

 

Would/could you post a photograph of the back including frame?

Debora

 

Why wouldn't someone want to sign that? Shows a Rackham influence to my eye.

 

The man appears to be a Christian pilgrim (crucifix, knotted cord around waist, sandals, staff, overall poverty) who is having his world rocked by coming upon beings from the world of the classical Greek gods. Could be Pan & Syrinx, or characters may be a generic satyr & nymph. I don't know a story that goes with this, but I love it.

 

Perhaps more cartoon than illustration, given the subject matter. A Catholic Mendicant order member shocked at a pagan saytr and putti?

 

Wow, I absolutely love it!

 

Is there anything on the back?

 

My gut feeling is that it isn’t really old. I guess that it is from around 1900 or later. I love the style though!

 

Julius Diez?


http://www.dxpo-playingcards.com/xpo/deck-month/pages/deck-16-06.htm

 

I am not seeing one, but you might try examining the whole image closely with a magnifying glass. There might be a signature or monogram hidden in the lines.

I also think it looks like Arthur Rackham.

 

Absolutely. Very cool!

 

WOW! Thank you all so much! Wasn't expecting this many comments, I really appreciate it. I am a dealer, but my focus is usually jewelry and antiques so art is not my expertise. I got this etching at a small local auction along with one other one, and they likely came straight out of an estate. I think whoever owned them before put them in new frames...wish I knew what the old frame looked like to get a better sense of age. I do find it surprising that there would be no signature, but maybe I will take a closer look with a loupe just in case. The other one it came with looks to be antique, but I couldn't find any info on the artist. I don't think there's any relation between the two besides them being from the same home. If anyone is familiar with the artist's name on that one let me know! It looks like "Delfosse" perhaps?

I love everyone's thoughts so far... a Christian pilgrim is a good idea, and I'm definitely going to look into Arthur Rackham and Julius Diez, although I haven't had the opportunity yet. I've had my fair share of prints and etchings, but this one I found rather unique, so I thought it was worth looking into more.

 

Maybe I will try and take it out of the cheap modern frame, see if I can find anything else

 

It should be very easy to take out of that frame. If you're keeping it, it should be reframed with non-acidic and uv-protective materials. The other was obviously framed properly. It's a lovely little etching.

 

It is called "Vieux Clocher", old belltower. It could be by Belgian artist Joseph Delfosse (1888-1971), who signed his work Jos Delfosse.
Delfosse's etchings were often this dark, a characteristic of many Belgian etchings and woodcuts of the time.

 

This is by Jos(eph) Delfosse:
https://www.fwauction.com/en/lot/108138/13136405-joseph-delfosse-18881970-ougre

The signature is a little different, but signatures can change somewhat during someone's lifetime. Maybe someone else can find a signature that is closer to yours, or maybe another artist named Delfosse.

 

More by J. Delfosse, also churches:
https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/21030180-delfosse-joseph

 

I beleive the initials are MD and that name starts Ma_ Delfosse. Could not find Delfosse artist with those initials.There is a Georges Delfosse who's birth name is Georges Marie Joseph Delfosse,so maybe he used his second name initial sometimes,but could not find an example.