Virgin and Child appearing to St Dominic

Claude Vignon

1590/1593 Tours – 1670 Paris

Etching after Guido Reni. Plate size: 24.9 x 19.4 cm; sheet size: 25.3 x 19.6 cm. Robert-Dumesnil XI, 1 (our impression); Le Blanc 26, Pacht Bassani (1993 – 1994) p. 359, no. 293.

Provenance: Alexandre Pierre François Robert-Dumesnil (1778 Périers – 1864 Paris), (Lugt 2200)

Exceptional, rich, earliest impression, precisely printed with a beautiful plate tone, uncleaned plate edges; in perfect, untouched condition with small margins all around; probably before the copper plate has been strengthened.

A proof before the lettering, with the production details annotated in brown ink, probably by Vignon himself, exactly as they appear on the lettered state: ‘Guido Reni jnt CVignon excud. cum privilegio’.

Vignon was a highly prolific and successful artist. No other French painter had as many prints engraved after his work during his lifetime. But he also had strong links with the Parisian community of engravers and publishers, and himself produced thirty-one etchings, all of which are considered to be rare. This etching is of special interest as a rare example of a plate engraved after another master, while retaining Vignon's characteristically expressive and nervous manner. Moreover, it is thought to reproduce a (now lost) altarpiece made for San Mattia’s Church in Bologna.

Ours is Robert-Dumesnil’s own impression, which he described in his catalogue. It is the only known proof impression before the letters.

A truly exceptional print, extremely rare and probably unique in this state.

Bought by a museum, Northern America.