Engraving On Vellum, Ancient Hermaphrodite, Florence Gallery

Gallery of Florence
Hermaphrodite – Antique statue
Etching
Plate dimensions: 54 x 36 cm

Explanatory text by Mongez the elder, member of the Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, Keeper of the Antiques of Sainte-Geneviève.

Provenance:Extract from the book Tableaux, Statues, Bas-Reliefs et Camées de la Galerie de Florence et du Palais Pitti, published in Paris between 1789 and 1807.
• Drawn by: Jean-Baptiste Wicar
• Engraved by: Claude-Louis Masquelier
• Artistic direction: Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine (probably assisted by Lacombe)
• Publisher: Lacombe, Painter – Rue de la Harpe n°84, Paris
• Printing: Imprimerie de la Galerie de Florence, on superfine vellum paper by Johannot d'Annonay

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This plate represents the Hermaphrodite, a famous antique statue uniting in a single body the attributes of Venus and Mercury, symbol of perfect harmony between the sexes. Through the precision of the drawing, the beauty of the print, the richness of the scholarly commentary of Mongez the elder and the exceptional quality of the print, this work embodies the attraction of the 18th century for Antiquity, its myths and its ideal of beauty. This print is distinguished by its remarkable state of conservation, the clarity of the print, and the nobility of the paper used. It is among the most beautiful prints of the series published in Paris at the turn of the Enlightenment.

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Condition: Very good apparent condition, laid paper with intact margins, tiny marginal traces without affecting the subject. Fine and contrasting print.
Shipping: Fast and careful shipping in a rigid tube.