Elijah challenging the prophet to a sacrifice

Reference: S23467
Author Nicolas LESUEUR
Year: 1730 ca.
Measures: 357 x 214 mm
€250.00

Reference: S23467
Author Nicolas LESUEUR
Year: 1730 ca.
Measures: 357 x 214 mm
€250.00

Description

Elijah challenging the prophet to a sacrifice; in the centre foreground figures prostrating themselves before an altar where an ox is being sacrificed, on the right Elijah kneeling before his sacrifice to God, on the left dancing revellers; after a drawing by Maturino.

Etching and chiaroscuro, 1740 circa, signed at lower center. After Maturino.

A fine impression, on contemporary laid paper, with margins, perfect condition.

The charoscuro is by Nicolas Le Seur while the etching is by Paul Ponce Antoine Robert de Séri
(1686 - 1733).


The plate is from the series "Recueil d'estampes d'après les plus beaux tableaux et d'après les plus beaux desseins qui sont en France".
Also known as 'Recueil Crozat', is a series of plates commissioned by the collector Pierre Crozat and reproducing famous paintings and drawings of the era; 140 plates were published in 1729. A second volume formed by 42 prints (instead of the 110 plates initially planned) was issued in 1740.
After Crozat's death, the plates were sold to a company of booksellers who commissioned Mariette to reorganize the 'Recueil'; Mariette divided the plates into two volumes, added some missing descriptions, and advertised the set to the public in 1742.
In 1764, Basan bought the plates and the text, and republished the 'Recueil', but replaced the woodcuts by intaglio prints. Basan also published the 45 plates reproducing the Italian paintings from the collection of the Duc d'Orléans in a volume entitled 'Recueil d'après la gallerie du palais royal'

Literature

Robert-Dumesnil I.282.10

Nicolas LESUEUR (Parigi 1691 - 1764)

Nicolas Le Sueur was born in 1691 in Paris. He came from a French wood-engraver family and is its most famous member. He was the son of Pierre Le Sueur (1663–98) and probably the father of Blaise Nicolas Le Sueur (1716–83). The artist signed his works with the initials "NLS". He especially cultivated the light-dark cut (chiaroscuro cut) with the connection of line etchings and clay plates. Nicolas Le Sueur also made the 30 sheets for the Cabinet Crozat (1729-42) using this technique. In addition, he also made vignettes and book illustrations. Nicolas Le Sueur died in 1764 in Paris.

Literature

Robert-Dumesnil I.282.10

Nicolas LESUEUR (Parigi 1691 - 1764)

Nicolas Le Sueur was born in 1691 in Paris. He came from a French wood-engraver family and is its most famous member. He was the son of Pierre Le Sueur (1663–98) and probably the father of Blaise Nicolas Le Sueur (1716–83). The artist signed his works with the initials "NLS". He especially cultivated the light-dark cut (chiaroscuro cut) with the connection of line etchings and clay plates. Nicolas Le Sueur also made the 30 sheets for the Cabinet Crozat (1729-42) using this technique. In addition, he also made vignettes and book illustrations. Nicolas Le Sueur died in 1764 in Paris.