Author: NORBLIN DE LA GOURDAINE, J.P.- engrs.- Rembrandt style.-
Title: Rare series of 63 Norblin [of a total engraved Oeuvre of 93] etchings, including his sought after self portrait [Hillemacher 2], 'Alexandre et Diogène' [Hillemacher 10], 'Le Grand Marchand de Mort-Aux-Rats' [Hillemacher 25], a number of etchings from the 'beggar' series, 'Le Village' [Hillemacher 37], the fine etching of the Polish General Mazaeppa [Hillemacher 65], many from the series of Polish characters & portraits.
Description: Dated in the plates 1778 [self portrait], 1781, 1787, etc. Original 18th c. etchings & drypoint. Meas. in general from 2 x 2 cm to 8 x 10 cm up to 12 x 8 cm. [Engraved surface]. Ample blank margins and good plate marks. Mostly signed and dated in the plate 'N.f', 'N.', 'Norblin f', 'Norblin fecit'etc. (a few signed in reverse]. Very good quality paper. (All etchings tipped onto brownish paper surface, to be removed by a professional paper restorer.). Comprising some 70% of his total engraved oeuvre. Jean Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine, painter and engraver, especialy known for his meticulous work and miniature engraved portraits [sometimes as small as 1.6 x 1.2 cm!], bible scenes and landscapes in the style of the unsurpassed master Rembrandt. Norblin [1745-1830] was taught by Francois Casanova and his engraved oeuvre [93 pieces] was compiled by Hillemacher [Paris, 1848] 'Catalogue des estampes qui composent l'oeuvre de Jean-Pierre Norblin', printed in only 50 copies: [A re-print w. illustrations of the Hillemacher catalogue was made in 1999 by Galerie Martinez, Paris]. See also the catalogue by W. Franke, 'Das radierte Werk des Jean-Pierre Norblin...'[Leizpig, 1895]: According to Monod, 'Les Prix Des Estampes', vol. 5 p. 198, Norblin had an engraved oeuvre of nearly 100 etchings, '...ordinairement traitées dans la manière de Rembrandt... Il a fait des belles copies de Rembrandt ... Les pl.[anches] de Norblin ne sont généralement signées que d'un 'N.' Sur quelquesunes il a ajouté un 'W' (Varsovie).': Portalis & Béraldi, vol. III, pp. 237-239: Norblin travelled to Poland in the entourage of [General] Prince Czartoryski in 1774. He founded a school of painting in Warsaw and taught many pupils, he was visited by large numbers of influential and high ranking Polish noblemen, including King Stansilas-August, who appointed him Painter-Royal. Norblin was fascinated by Rembrandt's etching technique and took it upon himself to unravel the secret of the master's method. '... Ses ombres sont vigoreuses et décidées, a écrit M. F.Hillemacher [in his preface to the Norblin catalogue], ses clais-obscurs d'une égalité et d'une finesse de ton vraiment surprenantes ... en examinent la suite curieuse d'épreuves différentes de son oeuvre, que nul depuis Rembrandt n'a su mieux que Norblin tourmenter son cuivre et le forcer à rendre sa pensée...' [Beraldi, pp. 238-239]: Le Blanc, vol. III/IV, pp. 105 - 106: Bénézit, vol. VII, p. 751: Norblin turned away from etching as a medium in 1789 [bar one occasion in 1808] after which he only produced drawings and paintings and focussed his attention on his collection of master engravings, among which a fine collection of Rembrandt engravings. Norblin returned to France in 1804 and died 23 February 1830 at the age of 84. Norblin reached for perfection and his etching process invariably consisted of a number of proofs & various states, the earlier [and unfinished] proofs were often discarded by Norblin and only functioned as 'work in progress'. The prints encountered these days are almost always the later or finished states.

Keywords: etskunst KO2649 SB privé engravers