catalog text
JOHN FABER AFTER GODFRIED SCHALCKEN
"Boy Blowing on a Firebrand to Light a Candle"
Engraving on paper | published 1751 | after the original painting ca. 1692-96
Item # C104054
After the original painting by Godfried Schalcken (Dutch, 1643-1706) ca. 1692-96 held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Scotland, the engraving was executed by John Faber, The Younger (Dutch, 1695-1756) and was published in 1751. The impression depicts a young boy holding a candle holder in his right hand while blowing on a firebrand in his left hand. The moon peers through clouds in the upper right corner.
The impression is lettered in black ink "Gody,, Schalcken Pinxt,, Wm,, Shipley Delint."; "Done from the Original Painting at Altrop, in the Collection of JOHN SPENCER Esq. To Whom this Plate is humbly Dedicated, by His Obliged & most humble,, Servt,, John Faber"; "J. Faber fecit 1751" "Printed for T. Bowles in St. Pauls Church Yard, & John Bowles & Son in Cornhil."
It is a good example with a clean overall field that presents beautifully in a fine contemporary giltwood frame under museum glass. It is well represented in the permanent holdings of museum on both sides of the Atlantic.
Museum holdings of this engraving:
- British Museum, acc. no. 1881,0611.253
- Yale Center for British Art, acc. no. B1970.3.884
- Rijks Museum, acc. no. RP-P-1904-1272
Bibliography:
- British mezzotints portraits : being a descriptive catalogue of these engravings from the introduction of the art to the early part of the present century, J. Chaloner Smith, p. 358, catalogue number 160
Measurements: 16 7/16" H x 12 1/8" W x 7/8" D [frame]
Condition Report:
Minor smudging and discoloration to the margins and lower lettered field; scattered creases; some minor spots of wear to the image including around the nose and to the far right behind his elbow; very good-to-excellent condition; professionally mounted and hung in a contemporary giltwood frame behind glass.