[Charles Melchior Descourtis.]
Proof before all letters.
Magnificent, large and scarce colour aquatint, 395 x 520mm. 15½ x 20½". One or two spots to image; trimmed close to plate. Fine colour.
'The Shipwreck'. A young sailor watches in horror from the shore as a ship is hurled by a huge wave towards rocks on a tropical island or coastline; he is restrained by one white and two black companions. Other figures to shore; praying figure and black slave aboard the doomed ship. Charles Melchior Descourtis (1753 - 1820), engraved the set of six 'Paul et Virginie' after Jean Frédéric Schall. While this has a similar theme it isn't one from the set. This print is, however, nearly identical to 'Le Naufrage de Virginie' (Mixelle after Lambert), which we also have in stock (see our ref. 28894). While the image sizes are identical, 'Le Naufrage de Viriginie' has a border around the edge, was printed from a larger plate, and shows significant differences to the waves and clouds.
Not in BM or BNF.
[Ref: 18009]  £1,100.00