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Twelve months of the year

Creator: Joseph Friedrich Leopold
Offered by: Shapero Gallery

Description
The complete set, a spectacular example heightened with gold.

Joseph Friedrich Leopold (1668-1726) was a publisher, engraver, printseller and bookseller in Augsburg, taking over the publishing firm of J.U. Kraus in 1719. His son, Johann Christian Leopold (1699 - 1755), succeeded him.

Leopold’s Twelve Months are based on etchings by Robert Bonnart (1652-1733) that were most likely made in the 1690s. At least three versions of the series are known, one with a quatrain, one without (probably that which Leopold copied), and a third by Nicolas Bonnart junior, Robert Bonnart’s nephew.

A Parisian painter and engraver, Bonnart grew up in a family of artists and art dealers. His work was divided into three main activities. First, he worked for Louis XIV, for whom he designed the “Cabinet du Roi” (the King’s cabinet) together with Frans van der Meulen, a Flemish Baroque painter specialising in battle scenes. Some of the paintings and engravings that Bonnard made for the Roi Soleil are now to be found in the Chateau de Versailles. Second, on a more personal level, Bonnart sold some of his works to private customers and sometimes worked on commission for noblemen. Finally, Bonnart helped his brothers Nicolas I and Henry II by designing many fashion engravings to be sold in their art shops on the rue Saint Jacques. These etchings were later copied and sold all over Europe, and Bonnart was soon to be seen as one of the masters of the “dessin de mode” (fashion drawings).

Etchings with original hand colouring and gold highlights, with titles in French and a German descriptive title of the image, numbered 1-12 in bottom right corners; occasional light foxing, plates 11 & 12 (November and December) bottom right corners a bit damaged and plate 9 (September) toned. Framed and glazed, overall size: 39 by 27.7cm.

More Information

Documentation:	Ample Provenance
Origin:	Germany
Period:	18th Century
Materials:	Etchings with original hand colouring and gold highlights
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1710
Styles / Movements:	Other
Dealer Reference #:	90518
Incollect Reference #:	271943

Dimensions

W.	10.91 in;	H.	15.35 in;
W.	27.7 cm;	H.	39 cm;

Message from Seller:

Based in the heart of Mayfair in London, we specialise in prints and original works on paper across a broad range of subjects, from antique prints to modern pochoir plates, as well as photographs from vintage photography to modern art photography.

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