Three Etchings of Skulls

Details

WENCESLAUS HOLLAR (1607-1677)
Three Etchings of Skulls
A Skull resting on a Stone Block (after Leonardo da Vinci)
1645
on laid paper, without watermark
a very good, tonal impression of this rare print
with narrow margins;
Sectioned Skull in Profile to Left with the Left side of the Cranium removed (after Leonardo da Vinci)
1651
on laid paper, without watermark
a very good impression of this rare print
with margins;
Skull and Cross Bones
etching
1652
on laid paper, without watermark
a very good impression of this rare print, second, final state
with small margins;
together with A Study of Hat by Johann Friedrich Morgenstern (1777–1844)
etching
1797
on thick laid paper, without watermark
a fine impression
with margins
Plate 78 x 92 mm., Sheet 81 x 93 mm. (A Skull resting)
Plate 70 x 76 mm., Sheet 90 x 95 mm. (Sectioned Skull)
Plate 49 x 57 mm., Sheet 58 x 66 mm. (Skull and Cross Bones)
Plate 63 x 76 mm., Sheet 76 x 85 mm. (Study of Hat)(4)

来源

Hugh Melville Howard, Earl of Wicklow (1883-1919) (Lugt 1280b) (Sectioned Skull only).
Christopher Mendez (1943-2025), London; then by descent to present owners.

Literature

Pennington 1773-1775; New Hollstein 1179, 793, 1196 (Hollar)
Nagler 36 (Morgenstern)

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Stefano Franceschi Specialist

sfranceschi@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3103

拍品专文

Chris Mendez liked skulls, but also had a penchant for hats and other headgear, and the head to wear them with flair. It is not surprising that he felt drawn to Hollar's skulls - and to the charming but unassuming little 'portrait of a hat' by Morgenstern.

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