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Mortimer Menpes Pair Of Antique Prints 1909 Laughing Cavalier & William II Pair.
Two very fine prints behind glass in original paper mache frames from the “Black Issue” dated circa 1900.
The Laughing Cavalier - Frans Hans - The Wallace Collection, London.
A highly gifted portraitist, Frans Hals had a supreme ability to characterise his sitters and make them appear lifelike. This exuberant portrait of a young man, aged 26, wearing a flamboyant costume is his most famous painting. The man’s confident pose with his left hand on his hip, upturned hat and moustache, and coy expression, imbue the portrait with a unique vitality. The black sash is particularly noteworthy as it showcases Hals’s dazzling capacity to paint using a limited colour palette, leading Vincent van Gogh to exclaim that "Frans Hals must have had 27 blacks"!
William II Prince of Orange - Nassau - Hermitage Gallery, St Petersburg.
Appointed ‘Principal Painter in Ordinary to Their Majesties’ in 1632, Van Dyck created numerous portraits of Charles I, his wife Henrietta Maria, and their children, many of which still remain in the British Royal Collection. Depicting his sitters with a relaxed elegance and understated authority, Van Dyck’s sophisticated style dominated English portraiture until the end of the 18th century.
Mortimer Menpes copied a series of Grand Master paintings in the early 20th century which A&C Black of Soho Square, London subsequently published in print form.
Menpes was a very talented and innovative printmaker, this is evident in the quality of these very fine prints. Further detail of his life and work is widely available online for your perusal.
Papier-mache in antiques?
Papier-mache has been used in art and furniture for hundreds of years. It can be dated back to the Han Dynasty in China around 200 AD and was used for not only decorative purposes but to also craft helmets. Across the rest of the Asian continent it can also be found on shields and armour.
Antique toys and dolls may feature papier-mache elements such as heads, hands and legs. Dolls made of papier-mache can be dated back to the 16th century in Europe with many other examples across the centuries.
One of the most popular uses for papier-mache in antiques is in decorative frames. The light yet durable nature of the material made it an easy option when hanging artworks, especially if they are very large. From the 18th century, the gilding of papier-mache created a low cost alternative to carved wood or cast metals, it is found on frames dated from 1725 onwards and within interior decoration, such as three dimensional flourishes on ceilings, known as ‘paper stucco’.
Picture Condition Report
Prints - good order.
Glass - good order.
Frames - in the main, very good order to sculptured body albeit some losses, scuffs and fraying to the very outer edges of the frame and some corners which are mainly unseen from normal home viewing distance. A simple job to anyone who desires to restore but for us we very much like the distressed and slightly tired look when balanced accordingly in an eclectic room environment. If you want immaculate - these are not for you, however, if you want that very unique look of worn high quality then one should consider these fine prints very quickly indeed.
Frame dimensions
Height 61 cm
Width 54 cm
Depth - Important
These fine pictures and frames have a staggering overall depth of 8cm. This means that their wall/room presence is quite simply beautiful. Their considerable depth provides great warmth to any room, we are certain you will be absolutely delighted with them.
Price is for the pair.
Item No LM 00076