Fan with figures in a garden

At center three pairs of dancers facing each other, women to right and men to left, surrounded by spectators and musicians; on the background a fountain with a cupid; at distance to right and to left, small villages; on a fan shaped as an elaborate oval. A copy in reverse after della Bella, with significant changes.

Etching and engraving, signed on lower center. Lettered below image, production details to right and left “Nichlas Cochin feit a paris Cum pri. Gli Diporti della Villa”.

Fan ascribed by Nicolas Cochin the Elder. Described by Meaume (n. 1006) among the works of Jacques Callot, though rightly ascribed by him to Stefano della Bella.

Example in the supposed second state with the signature of the publisher, Daman.

Beautiful work printed on contemporary laid paper with thin margins on three sides, trimmed to platemark on lower part, light abrasions on the right side, otherwise in excellent condition.

Very likely, this work belongs to an edition subsequent to the first (my hypothesis is the second of two) since besides the first address and the privilege next to the engraver’s name, there is another address, that of Daman, an Italian printer who worked in Bologna around 1650 printing second an onward states of various artists’ plates. Some of the museum example bears the imprint “Balthasar Moncornet ex a paris Cum pri".

Bibliografia

Meaume, Jacques Callot, n. 1006; Alexandre de Vesme, Phyllis D. Massar Stefano della Bella. Catalogue Raisonné, n. 80.210.