17th Century: Original Jacques Callot engravings

 Jacques Callot              The Gobbi              Les Caprices             Varie Figure              Les Gueux          Israel Silvestre         

Jacques Callot (1592-1632) was one of the earliest great creative artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His career can be divided into two periods: an Italian period, c. 1609-1621, and a Lorraine period from 1621 until his death. Callot studied the technique of engraving under Phillipe Thomasin in Rome. About 1612 he joined Guilio Parigi in Florence. At that time Medici patronage expended itself almost exclusively on "feste," and both Parigi and Callot were employed by Cosimo II (de Medici) to create visual records of these entertainments. Callots compositions are organized as if they were a stage setting and reduced the figures to a tiny scale, each one being rendered by the fewest possible strokes. This required an extremely fine etching technique. Callot enjoyed a lasting popularity all over Europe. He returned to Nancy after Cosimo*s death in 1621. During the Lorraine period Callot illustrated sacred books, made a series of plates of the Apostles, and visited Paris to make animated maps of the sieges of La Rochelle and the Ile de RČ. Callot was one of the first etchers to used the technique of repeated biting, and sometimes combined graver work with etching


BALLI DI SFESSANIA

From a series of twenty-four plates, most likely published in Nancy c.1622 after compositions designed in Florence; rather than characters from the commedia dell'arte, the figures are to be identified as street-performers engaged in a dance called 'sfessania'.

The prints in this series - Callot’s most exuberant and delightful - depict dances known in Neapolitan dialect as the sfessania. Such dances, as Callot’s etchings demonstrate in salacious detail, are characterized by violent and sometimes obscene physical contortions and gesticulations. Each plate features a pair of figures pulled from the repertoire of popular entertainers, their balletic interactions running a comic gamut from mock grace to blatant crudity.

Here the almost complete set (23 an 24)  in the first state before the publishers address of I. Silvestre and before the number of  the second and third state.
Important valuable work, you will hardly find a selection like this on the market elsewhere.

Guaranteed original Callot                 Guaranteed early impressions


This set is sold

Balli Di Sfessania The almost complete series in first state L.379- 402

L.379 ( I / III )

Balli di Sfessania

Title, with three male figures on a stage, respectively playing ute, playing tambourine, and carrying an empty box; two figures in the background looking from behind the curtain. c.1621/22

L.380 ( I / II )
 
Cucorongna - Pernoualla

Two male figures, dancing in a grotesque way; both are wearing a hat adorned with feathers, a mask, and a tight costume; figures in the distance. c.1621/22
 

L.381 ( I / II )

Cap. Cerimonia - Sig. Lavinia

Public square with, on the left a man wearing a hat and greeting a woman facing left, wearing a long dress and plumed hat, her hands tucked into her skirts; figures in the background. c.1621/22

L.382 ( I / II )

Smaraolo cornuto - Ratsa di Boio

Public square with, in the foreground, a male figure standing to right and looking at another man dancing in a grotesque way on the right.
(this print is missing in the inventory)

L.383 ( I / II )

Cicho Sgarra - Collo Francisco

Two male figures dancing in a grotesque way; both are dressed in a similar fashion, with plumed hat, cape and mask; figures in the background. c.1621/22
 

L.384 ( I / II )

Gian Fritello - Ciurlo

On the left, standing man looking to right, holding a sword in left hand; on the right, man with sword at his side, dancing in a grotesque way; both are dressed in a similar fashion, with plumed hat and mask; figures in the background. c.1621/22

L.385 ( I / II )

Guarsetto - Mestolino

Two male figures with sword at their side, facing each other; both are dressed in a similar way, with plumed hat, baggy outfit and mask; figures dancing in the background. c.1621/22

L.386 ( I / II )

Riciulina - Metzetin

A woman dancing on the left and a man with plumed hat and mask dancing and playing lute on the right; figures on a square in the background. c.1621/22
Etching

L.387 ( I / II )

Pulliciniello - Sig. Lucretia

A standing women placing her hand on the shoulder of a man wearing a mask and a baggy outfit; figures on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.388 ( I / II )

Cap. Spessa Monti - Bagattino

Two male figures, both wearing masks; the one on the left is about to draw his sword, while the one on the right is bending over; figures on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.389 ( I / II )

Scaramucia - Fricasso

Two male figures, both wearing masks and plumed hats, standing back to back, with their sword drawn; figures on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.390 ( I / II )

Scapino - Cap. Zerbino

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat and mask, facing each other; wine bottle at their feet; figures fighting on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.391 ( I / II )

Cap. Bonbardon - Cap. Grillo

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask and tight outfit with pompoms, and dancing in a grotesque way; figures on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.392 ( I / II )

Cap. Esgangarato - Cap. Cocodrillo

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask, tight outfit with pompoms and ankle bracelets, facing each other and dancing in a grotesque way; figures dancing on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.393 ( I / II )

Cap. Mala Gamba - Cap. Bellavita

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask and outfit with pompoms, dancing in a grotesque way; the figure on the left lifts his hat; figures dancing on a public square in the background. c.1621/22
 

L.394 ( I / II )

Cap. Babeo - Cucuba

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat and mask; the figure on the left stands to the right, and holds a sword between his thighs; the one on the right dances in a grotesque way; figures on a public square in the background. c.1621/22

L.395 ( I / II )

Fracischina - Gian Farina

Two figures in the foreground of a public square: on the left a woman dancing and playing the tambourine, and on the right, a man seen from behind, brandishing a sword and dancing. c.1621/22

L.396 ( I / II )

Bello Sguardo - Coviello

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask, and tight outfit with sword at their side, dancing in a grotesque way while holding their scarf; figures dancing in the background. c.1621/22

L.397 ( I / II )

Razullo - Cucurucu

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask, and tight outfit with pompoms; the one on the left plays the lute, the other dances; in the background, street-performers performing on a public square. c.1621/22

L.398 ( I / II )

Pasquariello Truonno - Meo Squaquara

Two male figures, both wearing plumed hat, mask, and tight outfit with pompoms, dancing in a grotesque way ; figures dancing in the background. c.1621/22

L.399 ( I / II )

Sig. Lucia - Trastullo

Man with mask and baggy outfit, kneeling at the feet of a woman, and kissing the shoe she is presenting him. c.1621/22


 

L.400 ( I / II )

Cap. Cardoni - Maramao

Two men wearing similar outfits, with plumed hat and mask; the one on the right threatens the other with a large syringe; figures dancing in the background. c.1621/22

L.401 ( I / II )

Franca Trippa - Fritellino

Two male figures, dressed in similar fashion, with plumed hat, mask and baggy outfit, facing each other and dancing; the one on the right also plays lute; in the background, a man kissing a lady's hand. c.1621/22

L.402 ( I / II )

Taglia Cantoni - Fracasso

Two male figures, dressed in similar fashion, with plumed hat and mask, fighting each other with swords; figures in the background. c.1621/22

click on the thumbnails to see a larger image
 


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