Live Auction 20060Old Master Prints
NICOLAS BERCHEM (1620-1683)
Lot 54 A GROUP OF BRITISH MUSEUM DUPLICATES FROM THE COLLECTION OF AN ENGLISH CONNOISSEUR

NICOLAS BERCHEM (1620-1683)

The Cow drinking

Closed9 December 2021

Price Realised

GBP 8,125

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NICOLAS BERCHEM (1620-1683)
The Cow drinking
etching, 1680, on laid paper, watermark Strasbourg Lily in a crowned Shield with pendant Letters 4WR, a brilliant impression of the extremely rare second state (of five), with thread margins
Plate 279 x 376 mm.
Sheet 280 x 378 mm.

Probably Graf Moriz von Fries (1777-1826), Vienna (see Lugt 2903; without his mark; with the signature of his curator, Franz Rechberger (1771-1843), Vienna (Lugt 2133), dated 1803; von Fries's sale, Vries, Brondgeest, Engelbert & Roos, Amsterdam, 21 June 1824 (and following days); Konstboek No. 47, lot 1 ('De drinkende Koe, met de Trekletters, de eerste druk.') (Fl. 91; to Woodburn).
With Samuel Woodburn (1786-1853), London (see Lugt 2584; without his mark).
John Sheepshank (1787-1863), Leeds, Hastings, and London (Lugt 2333); presumably acquired from the above; the collection sold in 1836 to Smith.
With William Smith (1808-1876), London; acquired from the above.
British Museum, London (Lugt 301); acquired from the above; with their duplicate stamp (Lugt 305), with the initials G.N.R. in pencil; inscribed 'exchanged 12.12.1979' and signed by John A. G. Gere, Keeper of Prints & Drawings, 1973-1981.
Acquired in exchange from the above by the present owner.

Specialist note

The Cow drinking is Berchem's largest and most complex composition, and the only one with an elaborate architectural capriccio as a backdrop, presented here in a luminous impression of the very rare second state. The coat of the goats standing in the foreground at centre left and right show small touches of grey wash, possibly by the artist himself, who may have considered adding some mid-tone shading to the beasts. The third state however does not show such changes to the plate.