Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). OMNIA MIHI SUBDITA. The Rule of Death. Tomb with death from whose head with an hour-glass adorned with bat wings on top a veil flows down on the back and laterally, enthroned above of all the stuff of this world – represented outer right by a hemisphere – as there are gold, goods, seals + orders, crowns, scepter, orb + weapons, folios + cassock, scientific + agricultural instruments and nolens volens maulstick + palette with brushes. The right, however, holds a high tombstone, pointing with an arrow marked as “Presens” in the left at the inscription’s said final words OMNIA MIHI SUBDITA. Mezzotint + outline by Johann Jacob Ridinger (1736 Augsburg 1784). Inscribed: Ioh. Iac. Ridinger sculps. / Ioh. El. Ridinger delin. et exc. Aug. Vind., otherwise as above and below. 55.7 x 42.2 cm.
Provenance: Counts Faber-Castell, their Ridinger sale 1958 with its lot no. 146/2 as well as by the collection in pencil “(Invoice of) 14/3/1914” on the underlay carton; Radulf Count of Castell-Rüdenhausen (1922-2004).
Stillfried (3rd appendix to Thienemann, 1876) + Schwarz (Gutmann Collection, 1910) 1427 (without reference to outline engraving), here though as state II (of II) as not known to either; Reich auf Biehla 296 ( “Extremely rare”, 1894 ! Without reference to state/version.); Wend, (Additions to the Definitive Catalogues of Prints), I/1 (1975), 290 with knowledge of Stillfried/Schwarz; Faber-Castell 146 (without recognition as differing second state, otherwise together with Schwarz 1477); Niemeyer, (The Vanitas Symbolism with Johann Elias Ridinger) in Wunderlich (ed.), L’Art Macabre 2, 2001, illustration p. 105 (copy of the National Print Room Munich).
Not in Thienemann (1856) , Weigel, Art Stock Catalogue, pts. I-XXVIII (1838/57) , Silesian Ridinger collection at Boerner XXXIX (1885) , Coppenrath Collection (1889 f.) , Helbing XXXIV (Works by J. E. and M. E. Ridinger, 1554 items; 1900) , Schwerdt (1928/35) , Rosenthal, Ridinger list 126 (1940).
The second state as not known to both Stillfried and Schwarz of, as hitherto not recognized , the first version of this unbelievably fascinating sheet from the plate shortened at top with at the same time modified signature, both according to the copy of the National Print Room Munich, too. Schwarz’ presumption that the differences of his variant 1477 unknown to Stillfried were merely due to the reworking of the plate is incorrect. It is a repeated version from its own plate with, however, a decisive re-attachment of weight in the inscription’s message.
The both in print as preservation very fine copy in velvety brown-black with palpable chiaroscuro and the watermarks WANGEN and separate IV standing for contemporary impressions and surrounding margins of 4-8 mm. Both the two upper corners of it with backed tiny injury due to previous removal of old corner mounting on blue paper. On the left side besides backed minimal marginal tear outside of the platemark. In he lower left corner feeble water streak visible only in the white margin and the signature field. In the subject itself apart from that a small thin paper spot perceptible against the light only and a pinhead-small abrasion in the background of the vault. – Extremely rare.
Offer no. 14,857 / price on request