Spanish Prints at British Museum
The British Museum's current exhibition of Spanish prints and drawings coincides with the publication of the catalogue Renaissance to Goya: Prints and Drawings from Spain, in relation to which we have selected a few prints from our own stock to highlight.
A key figure in the history of Spain printmaking was Philip II (1527-98), of whom is written: 'Philip II's interest in prints and his awareness of their efficacy for disseminating images and information had a major impact on the development of engraving in Spain. His travels throughout Europe exposed him to the highly organized printmaking industry there'.
Philippus II. Caroli V. Filius, Hispaniar, Indiarum, Neapolis, Siciliae, Hierosolymae, &c Rex Catholicus...[etc.]
[n.d., c.1590.]
Engraving, roundel, sheet 190 x 185mm. 7½ x 7¼". Sheet trimmed, tipped into album page.
Philip II (1527 – 1598), King of Spain, aged 59, wearing hat, fur-trimmed coat and collar of the order of the Golden Fleece.
[Ref: 13262] £160.00 (£192.00 incl.VAT)
'The monastery-palace of the Escorial, 50km north-west of Madrid, was to be the greatest architectural achievement of Philip's reign and has played a central role in Spain's history since it was built'. The decorative schemes at the Escorial were executed by Italian artists, whose work had a lasting impact on future generations of Spanish artists:
In the later eighteenth and early nineteenth century the number of prints produced in Spain (reproductive as well as original) increased, as the above prints of the Escorial demonstrate. The next print is from a series of which the British Museum catalogue writes
'series of popular prints were often of high quality. A set of prints of about 1780-90 depicting Spanish dances (seguidillas boleras), for example, were expertly etched by Marcos Tellez Villar and carefully printed':
The next print is engraved by Spanish engraver 'B. Vazquez' after Antonio Carnicero (1748-1814), whose other works included a series of bullighting etchings (Collecion de la principales suertes de una corrida de toros, c.1789), and nineteen designs for an illustrated edition of Don Quixote in the 1770s. It portrays Diego Felipe de Guzman, Marques de Leganes (1594-1655), although the print dates from the late 19th century:
Also around this time (1779) the following prints were made: 'sixteen engravings were published after Luca Giordano's frescos of the Labours of Hercules in the Buen Retiro (destroyed during its nineteenth-century remodelling). José del Castillo provided the intermediary drawings for these and the plates were engraved by Juan Barcelon (1739-1801) and Nicolo Barsanti (active 1779)'. This is one of them:
Painted by Lascelles Hoppner. Engraved by H. Meyer.
London, Published as the Act Directs, April 4th. 1811, by the Engraver, 62, Gt. Russel Street, Bloomsbury.
Mezzotint, 512 x 405mm.
[Ref: 8023] £320
Stanley Anderson [ink signature.] ['S. Anderson' and monogram 'PC' etched in plate.]
[British, n.d., c.1940.]
Etching, signed in ink. Edition 109 proofs. With original PCQ mount & label, as published by the Print Collectors Club, with printed title pasted on inside of mount. Visible area 234 x 298mm. 9¼ x 11¾". A fine impression, scarce.
[Ref: 24420] £850.00
A key figure in the history of Spain printmaking was Philip II (1527-98), of whom is written: 'Philip II's interest in prints and his awareness of their efficacy for disseminating images and information had a major impact on the development of engraving in Spain. His travels throughout Europe exposed him to the highly organized printmaking industry there'.
[n.d., c.1590.]
Engraving, roundel, sheet 190 x 185mm. 7½ x 7¼". Sheet trimmed, tipped into album page.
Philip II (1527 – 1598), King of Spain, aged 59, wearing hat, fur-trimmed coat and collar of the order of the Golden Fleece.
[Ref: 13262] £160.00 (£192.00 incl.VAT)
'The monastery-palace of the Escorial, 50km north-west of Madrid, was to be the greatest architectural achievement of Philip's reign and has played a central role in Spain's history since it was built'. The decorative schemes at the Escorial were executed by Italian artists, whose work had a lasting impact on future generations of Spanish artists:
 |
| Escorial. Fachada Principal del Rl. Monasterio de Sn. Lorenzo. Pic de Leopol dibo. y lito. del nat. Lit. de J. Donon, Madrid. Madrid, Juan Bta. Stampa, editor, calle Atocha 20, Estamperia [n.d., c.1850]. Sepia-tinted lithograph, image 190 x 275mm. 7½ x 10¾". Good margins. [Ref: 22452] £130.00 (£156.00 incl.VAT) |
 | ||
| [Set of four views of the Escorial] [1] José Gomez de Navia delineó. Manuel Alegre lo grabó. [2] José Gomez de Navia lo delineó. Manuel Alegre lo grabó. [3] Josef Gomez de Navia del.t Tomas Lopez Enguidanos lo Gravó. [4] Josef Gomez de Navia lo delineó. Tomas Lopez Enguidanos lo grabó. Se halla en la Real CaleografÃa. [n.d. c.1830.] A set of four engravings. Watermarked: JQAN. [1] 402 x 648mm. 15¾ x 25½". [2] 362 x 542mm. 14¼ x 21¼". [3] 412 x 553mm. 16¼ x 21¾". [4] 415 x 552mm. 16¼ 21¾". [1 & 2] Crease into upper centre. [3] Crease lower right, crease into upper centre. [4] Repaired tear into top right hand corner. [Ref: 19740] £2,000 |
In the later eighteenth and early nineteenth century the number of prints produced in Spain (reproductive as well as original) increased, as the above prints of the Escorial demonstrate. The next print is from a series of which the British Museum catalogue writes
'series of popular prints were often of high quality. A set of prints of about 1780-90 depicting Spanish dances (seguidillas boleras), for example, were expertly etched by Marcos Tellez Villar and carefully printed':
 | ||||
| No.4 Campanelas de Las Seguidillas Boleras. [Marcos Tellez Villar.] [n.d. c.1780-90.] Copper engraving, 291 x 218mm. 11½ x 8½". Repaired tear above head of central figure. [Ref: 16305] £160.00 (£192.00 incl.VAT) |
The next print is engraved by Spanish engraver 'B. Vazquez' after Antonio Carnicero (1748-1814), whose other works included a series of bullighting etchings (Collecion de la principales suertes de una corrida de toros, c.1789), and nineteen designs for an illustrated edition of Don Quixote in the 1770s. It portrays Diego Felipe de Guzman, Marques de Leganes (1594-1655), although the print dates from the late 19th century:
 | ||||||
| D. Diego Mesia y Guzman [...] A. Carnicero lo dibuxo., B. Vazquez lo grabo. | £65 + VAT |
Also around this time (1779) the following prints were made: 'sixteen engravings were published after Luca Giordano's frescos of the Labours of Hercules in the Buen Retiro (destroyed during its nineteenth-century remodelling). José del Castillo provided the intermediary drawings for these and the plates were engraved by Juan Barcelon (1739-1801) and Nicolo Barsanti (active 1779)'. This is one of them:
£120 + VAT
While other reproductive engravings from works in the Spanish royal collection were produced by Juan Antonio Salvador Carmona (1740-1805), who also engraved this chart of Algeciras and Gibraltar:
[Gibraltar] Plano Geométrico de la Bahia de Algeriras y Gibraltar.
Grabado por D.n Juan Ant.o Salbador Carmona..
[Madrid, c.1786.]
Engraving, 790 x 530mm. Lateral crease.
A large sea chart, but also showing the defences of Algercas and Gibraltar. Published only a few years after a combined force of Spanish and French, with 100,000 men, 48 ships and 450 cannon failed to dislodge the British garrison, 1782.
[Ref: 1172] £420
Grabado por D.n Juan Ant.o Salbador Carmona..
[Madrid, c.1786.]
Engraving, 790 x 530mm. Lateral crease.
A large sea chart, but also showing the defences of Algercas and Gibraltar. Published only a few years after a combined force of Spanish and French, with 100,000 men, 48 ships and 450 cannon failed to dislodge the British garrison, 1782.
[Ref: 1172] £420
Goya's Disasters of War, some of the most celebrated Spanish prints, often depict the bravery of individuals during the Peninsular Wars. In relation to this, the catalogue states: 'the notoriety of individuals was celebrated well beyond Spain. Manuela Sancho, who in the 1808 siege discharged cannons 'without betraying the least agitation', is shown in a mezzotint by Henry Meyer published in London in 1811: she stands calmly beside her cannon, dressed in a hussar-inspired tunic and wearing an earring':
London, Published as the Act Directs, April 4th. 1811, by the Engraver, 62, Gt. Russel Street, Bloomsbury.
Mezzotint, 512 x 405mm.
[Ref: 8023] £320
To conclude, a 20th century etching by Stanley Anderson in the National Gallery in which can be seen two great Spanish paintings, Zurbaran's St Francis and a portrait of Philip IV by Velazquez:
[British, n.d., c.1940.]
Etching, signed in ink. Edition 109 proofs. With original PCQ mount & label, as published by the Print Collectors Club, with printed title pasted on inside of mount. Visible area 234 x 298mm. 9¼ x 11¾". A fine impression, scarce.
[Ref: 24420] £850.00
