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Vénus Anadyomène
[Venus rising from the Sea]
Beraldi 25
lithograph,
circa
1841-1842, on chine collé over medium-heavy ivory wove paper , a very
fine impression
of the only known state, with full margins, very slight lightstaining
overall,
and occasional faint foxing in the outer margins, a line of rust
spotting on the verso, 5 mm in from the margin, remains of hinges on
the verso, above and laterally,
otherwise in quite excellent condition,
P. 285x227mm. (excluding
letters), S. 449x318mm.
Provenance: Frans
Leytens, with his wetstamp lower right (Lugt 4480)
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Firstly, it
must be said that this print is a faithful rendition of Chassériau's famous picture, and the first lithograph that he ever made!
The picture (now in the Louvre, as is a preliminary sketch for the lithograph*)
may be seen as an implicit competition with that of Ingres**, which
took the master forty years to complete! Chasseriau's picture
received laudatory reviews in 1839, notably by Théophile Gautier, "It
is impossible to see a more charming picture..."***
The lithograph was also highly acclaimed when first published, as witnessed by this entry in a popular art review, Cabinet de l’Amateur et de l’Antiquaire, in 1842:
M.
Théodore Chassériau a lithographié lui-même sa Vénus ; c’est un exemple
que les peintres devraient bien suivre. La lithographie ainsi faite est
le dessin même de l’artiste ; rien ne trahit sa pensée, et toutes ses
intentions sont fidèlement rendues… La Vénus de M. Chassériau,
quoique d’une grande finesse, est traitée avec une largeur et une
sûreté magistrale, et reproduit tout à fait l’aspect de la peinture. Il
est impossible de voir quelque chose de plus doux, de plus tendre et de
plus harmonieux…
[Mr. Théodore Chassériau himself lithographed his Venus; it is an
example that painters should follow. The lithograph thus made is the
artist's own drawing; nothing betrays his thoughts, and all his
intentions are faithfully rendered… Mr. Chassériau’s Venus,
although of great refinement, is treated with masterful breadth and
sureness, and completely reproduces the appearance of the painting. It
is impossible to see anything softer, more tender and more harmonious …]
It may be seen as a masterpiece of Romanticist printmaking, and Chassériau's mastery of lithography is striking.
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* See https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010063640,
and a fine preliminary sketch (https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl020225024)
** See https://www.musee-conde.fr/fr/notice/pe-433-venus-anadyomene-ba5491af-07e9-45df-adcf-8b3f237de0ee
*** See his 8th article, dated 13 April 1839, on
the Salon de 1839 (http://www.theophilegautier.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Salon-de-1839.pdf )
**** https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k55509295/f351
