Auction Lot No. 222

Bidding:

GOYA, FRANCISCO DE

Spanish 1746-1828

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"Desparrete de la canalla con lanzas, medias-lunas, banderillas y otras armas (The rabble hamstring the bull with lances, sickles, banderillas and other arms)" plate 12 from "Tauromaquia", the set of 33 made for Goya in 1816, etching and aquatint on thin laid paper in sepia ink , 1816, , From the first edition of 1816 (see notes below) before the beveling of the plates., probably printed by Rafael Esteve for the artist, 1816 Condition:In very good condition, very minor foxing barely visible, with possible small repaired pin point punctures. Sheet: 10 by 14 1/8 in. (254 x 360 mm.) Plate: 9 5/8 by 13 3/4 in. (247 x 350 mm.) References: Recorded and illustrated in the standard text on Goya's original etchings by Harris No. 215, Framing: Sold unframed, but archivally matted and mounted. (Framing available see framed photo.) Note: A full set of 33 impressions from the first edition in the original portfolio recently sold for just under two million dollars. Harris comments: "The edition appears to have been very small...This (first) edition is the only one in which the full qualities of the plates can be appreciated. The impressions are extremely fine and are all clean-wiped." (p.307). The Tauromaquia prints were published under the artist’s direct supervision, one of the two major sets published while the artist was alive. "The arrangement of La Tauromaquia is a simple one. There are three basic groupings of etchings. The first is a time-line of history. A Hall of Fame roster of celebrities follows this set, and the series concludes with more or less a manual of technical maneuvers. There is movement in every print, but the etchings are also still-frames of critical moments. The upper portions of the compositions serve as background, and Goya zooms on the action by lowering the playing field. The focus is on the contrast between light and dark. It is a loose and fluid presentation. The execution is unpretentious and straightforward.(Source: http://www.artebello.com/wp/category/art-review/) The Tauromaquia, as it came to be known, is the rarest of Goya's four main intaglio series. Its artistry and understanding of the emotion and beauty of the Spanish bullfight stand out..." This impression has been compared with the impression from the collection at the Pomona College Museum of Art, which houses a complete set of the first edition. The impression being sold here is consistent in size, ink tones,tonality and paper and the minor imperfections in the aquatint perfectly mirrored in both impressions. Estimates* US $ Euro UK pound Swiss Fr 2000-3000 1660-2490 1360-2040 1960-2940 * Estimates do not include 25% buyer's premium (see Terms and Conditions). NR means no reserve (minimum bid $50 unless otherwise posted). Estimates in other currencies based on conversion rates of Euro: 0.83 , British Pound 0.68, Swiss Fr 0.98. All conversion values are approximate with the final cost determined in dollars. workcode: fg-2001h-36