632 - R. VINKELES (1741–1816), The Donkey and His Driver, 1769, Etching

R. VINKELES (1741–1816), The Donkey and His Driver, 1769, Etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741, Amsterdam – 1816, ibid.): The Donkey and His Driver: A fable illustration featuring a donkey, a driver, and a dog in front of a house, 1769, etching Technique: Etching on paper Print Quality: An absolutely superb, harmonious print, with crisp details and nuanced shades of black and gray. Inscription: Signed in the printing plate at the lower left: “Vinkeles, del. et sculp.” At the bottom of the printing plate: “L’ANE ET SES MAITRES. Fable CXIV. 2e Planche.” Date: 1769 Description: Within a rectangular picture area, a man stands on the right in front of a sturdy house, wearing a short jacket, knee-length trousers, stockings, and a wide-brimmed hat. With his arm raised, he is urging on a laden donkey, whose baskets and bundles fill the foreground. On the left, a path opens up, flanked by trees and the sky; a dog is running into the distance. The composition combines architecture and landscape. Delicate parallel and crisscrossed hatching renders the wall, roof, fur, and ground. Chiaroscuro contrasts draw the eye to the animal and its handler. The inscription at the bottom identifies the illustration as a scene from a fable and lends the scene a narrative meaning. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621–1695) *Fables choisies*, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Donkey; Man; Dog; House; Farmyard scene; Beast of burden; Baskets; Bundles; Fable; Book illustration; Architecture; Trees; Path; Rural scene; Hatching; Printed art; Driver; Genre; French text; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19.6 cm x 12.7 cm (7.7 x 5 in), Illustration: 12.9 cm x 8.3 cm (5.1 x 3.3 in) Condition: Good condition. Overall, in good condition for its age and well preserved. Puncture marks from an old binding are visible on the side of the page edge. The corners of the sheets show minimal wear. There is some browning along the edges. A few faint mold stains are visible.