Black chalk, incised for transfer, watermark Strasburg lily in a Crown, C and I Honig

208 x 231 mm. (8 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.)

Johann Elias Ridinger was a German painter, engraver, draughtsman and publisher. He is considered one of the most famous German engravers of animals, particularly horses, hounds and hunting scenes.

He began his training in Ulm with the painter Christoph Resch (170116), and later studied under Johann Falch (16871727) in Augsburg. He learned the art of engraving from Georg Philipp Rugendas. On the invitation of Wolf, Freiherr von Metternich (170631), he spent three years in Regensburg: his coursing and visits to the riding school there proved decisive for his development. His engraved, etched and scratched sheets show the animals in characteristic movements and positions in a landscape environment. The ornamental movements in his works show visibly Rococo stylistic tendencies.He later founded his own art publishing house in Augsburg, where most of his works appeared. In 1759 he became the director of the Augsburg Stadtakademie. His drawings were often executed with precision and taste and hence his work was held in high esteem and was also transferred to decoration, porcelain and ceramics.

Our drawing is one of three drawings in the same style, technique and subject matter. This technique was not typical of Ridinger, however there are other examples, such as Studies of Monkeys which was on the art market in 1990. The present drawing is possibly a preparatory design for one of Ridingers prints of a Camel being led by a Man.

1.Christies New York, 31 May 1990, lot 120.