Featured Etching Matthäus Merian King Charles II and Catherine de Braganza

Probably went wild on this one, spent 200 Euros for etching and Frame but did not want to pass this.
Attibuted to Matthaus Merian, etching from 1670 representing in two scenes the arrival of Catherine of Braganza in Portsmouth from Portugal and the lower part representing the married couple arriving at Whitehall in one of the largest if not the largest procession and fleet ever recorded in the rivers history.
The frame is old, but not experienced enough to tell if it is period, maybe later ( 19th century) any help on the frame would be appreciated.
Aware the etching had been folded before being put into the frame as the pictures show.
Not sure how to go about this, scared to remove the backing...should I to inspect the etching properly....?

 

Dont think it's from 1670. Would expect more aging if it was from that time period.

 

Hello rink28,thanks for chiming in, when you say you expect more ageing you mean on the frame or the etching itself?

 

The control and detail are wonderful. Really captures the pageantry.

I don't know about the frame, but I don't think the notion of matting goes back that far. Could be wrong.

 

It's a nice Etching for sure. I meant the Etching. I could be wrong though . Maybe it was kept secure for awhile.

 

17th century handmade rag paper can age very well - it is not inherently acidic like later wood pulp paper. You might be able to get a better idea of the date of the print if you can examine the paper closely. Early handmade paper should show laid and chain lines left from the papermaker's mold, and possibly a watermark that would identify the mill. There appears to be some staining around the edges, which might indicate it has been glued to a backing at some point.

Based on this example, which is in better condition, I fear you paid a bit much:
https://www.sandersofoxford.com/sho...tehall-along-the-river-thames-23-august-1662/

No reason to think the frame is contemporary with the print. Views of the back of the frame, showing the construction and any labels or notations, would be helpful in estimating a date.

 

Of course it's real! Dutch, and very nice indeed.

It's just a little bit rough. Frame is nothing.

 

Agree re frame. Not terribly old. And does etching no favors.

Debora

 

fold-out of a bööök.
https://schilbantiquarian.com/produ...erian-illustrated-maps-hungary-ottoman-crete/

https://schilbantiquarian.com/produ...erian-illustrated-maps-hungary-ottoman-crete/

 

Mhhh, Maybe Fid, cannot find the dimensions of the book you linked me to,the link 2anybooks added before you mentions this for the etching which seems in line with the dimensions of the paper in the frame ( won't be sure untill i Unframe)


Method Etching
Artist Matthäus Merian after Dirk Stoop
Published [c. 1670]
Dimensions Image 308 x 391 mm, Plate 316 x 398 mm, Sheet 340 x 432 mm

 

Beautiful, Nick.

The original was by Dirck Stoop, who was Dutch. He worked in both Portugal and England, hence the subject. The etching is by Matthäus Merian, who was Swiss.

 

so you think all editions had the same size ? or were folded the same way ? would be an interesting read. next christmas ?
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrum_Europaeum

 

Jezzz Fid, great link,24 editions of this book. I can back out of the purchase...too complicated so i think i will do just that

 

and that's not all. the Royal Naval Museum (??) in England has one example AND a shop...

 

Went today to check it out, paper was period and the pics did not do it justice, its not as roughed up as the pics make it look but after looking closely, the etching was indeed glued to the backing , that made me back out...too bad she was real nice

 

Once out of the book and framed, I think glued to a support was common enough practice. I think there are a lot of Durer and Rembrandt prints glued to supports, and frequently trimmed right to the border of the image.

 

Yes but i think it would affect the value quite a bit so backed out, price was fixed @ 200Euros...sometimes better to back out.
Could not take it out of the frame also if i did not buy so impossible to assess properly.

 

sometimes we have to back out against our hunting instinct.

 

Indeed Fid....thanks for all the advice,