Europe, Germany, Matthias Oesterreich (German, 1716-1778) etched after Piet Leon Ghezzi (Italian, Comunanza near Ascoli Piceno 1674-1755 Rome); publisher Conrado Walther of Dresden, Germany, 1750 CE. Twenty four etchings and title page, a complete series of caricatures of the Roman court and its foreign visitors of the Baroque era, etched by Matthias Oesterreich (German, 1716-1778) after designs by artist Piet Leone Ghezzi (Italian, Comunanza near Ascoli Piceno 1674-1755 Rome), entitled "Raccolta di XXIV. Caricature Disegnate colla penna dell Celebre Cavalliere Piet:Leon:Ghezzi. Conservati nell Gabinetto di Sua Maesta` il Re` di Polonia Elett:di Sassonia. Matth(ias): Oesterreich sculpsit Dresdae Nell Anno MDCCL," mounted on sturdy rag board with ornamental border. Within a Baroque botanical cartouche the etched title page features a caricature portrait of Frederick Augustus II (Augustus III, King of Poland) at the "head." Beneath the publisher is mentioned, "Si Vendea Dresda: Da George Conrado Walther: Libraro di Corte." Most of the etchings are captioned in Italian as follows: 1. Il Custode Generale d'Arcadia; 2. Chierico di Capella; 3. Decano; 4. Uditore; 5. Presidente della Grascia; 6-8. [uncaptioned]; 9. Annoso ne crede; 10. Custode del Registro delle Bolle Pontificie; 11. Curiale; 12. Il Sig. Dottore che Tasta il Polso; 13. Il Sig. Abbate in atto di legger Lettere; 14. Il Sig. Abbate Napoletano che scrive in Germania; 15. Il Sig. Abbate Segretario; 16. Il Sig. Baron Ungaro, e Uomo di Lettere dimorante attualmente in Roma; 17. [uncaptioned]; 18. Sig. Avocato, e Canonico Re in Schiena; 19-21. [uncaptioned]; 22. Cercante Cappuccino; 23. [uncaptioned]; 24. Petruccella Servitore. Most of the plates are signed "Eques. P.L. Ghezzi delin[eavit] [or] Cavallier P.L. Ghezzi delin. [and] Matthaeus Osterreich sculps[it] Dresde." Oesterreich signed each plate with his monogram. Plate no. IX is signed additionally in the caption as follows, "Petrus Leo. Eques. Ghezzi faciebat Roma 1722 ..., Matthaus Oesterreich sculpsit Dresde." Plates IX and XVII are in a different style from the rest. Although Piet Leon Ghezzi painted frescoes and history paintings, he is best known for his beloved caricatures of the Roman court and its foreign visitors. Rare to come by, a complete set of caricature etchings of Baroque era notables after the designs of Piet Leon Ghezzi. Size: each etching measures ~11.5" L x 8" W (29.2 cm x 20.3 cm), title page image measures 12" L x 8.5" W (30.5 x 21.6 cm), all mounted on sturdy rag board with ornamental border adding approximately 1" (2.5 cm) to each dimension.

Individual drawings by Ghezzi have sold for as much as 3000 Euros (~$3500), and in 2008 a Ghezzi painting hammered at $91,000 at Christie's, New York (April 15, 2008, Sale 1986, lot 47). A similar set is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Provenance: Ex-private Dr. Joseph & Edith Chess collection, Larchmont, NY

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#113832

Some aging with expected discoloration. A few with wormholes. One offset within border. Overall very good.