6506 - Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus

Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus Lippert and Zingg. Etching on vellum. 19.9 x 14.1 cm. 1798. Engelmann 882 A (from B IV). On November 3, 1773, Chodowiecki, accompanied by Adrian Zingg, visited the home of the antiquarian Philipp Daniel Lippert in Dresden. Chodowiecki documented the encounter in a humorous drawing, but the etching was not created until 25 years later. The occasion for this was presumably a recent trip to Dresden in 1798. Lippert, who is said to have been hard of hearing, holds his hand to his ear, while Zingg appears to be explaining something to him. Similar to his 1772 etching *Cabinet d’un peintre* (see Lot 6503), Chodowiecki appears here in the back right corner as an observer of the scene. This print comes from the first, smaller, unfinished, and etched plate, which was later discarded. Chodowiecki abandoned this first attempt at etching, presumably because he was not satisfied with the drawing or the problems encountered during the etching process. Prints of this early, discarded version are extremely rare. An excellent print with the small etching flaws characteristic of this plate, featuring a border around the burred plate edge. Minimally stained, with a faint light-colored margin; the center fold has been smoothed out, showing delicate fiber marks and likely having been repaired on the left; delicate crease marks in the white margin on the left; adhesive and mounting residues on the reverse; otherwise in very good condition. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.