Johann Ludwig Wernhard Faesch Sold at Auction Prices

[Faesch (Johann Ludwig Wernhard), "Whirsker".] The Metamorphoses of Melpomene and Thalia, 30 hand-coloured engraved plates, Robert Sayer, 1772.

[Faesch (Johann Ludwig Wernhard), "Whirsker".] The Metamorphoses of Melpomene and Thalia, or Dramatic Characters of the French and Italian Comedies, letterpress titles in English & French, no contents leaf, 30 hand-coloured engraved plates after Faesch, 6 folding, some light foxing and offsetting, occasional spotting or staining, modern dark blue morocco, g.e., original marbled wrappers bound in (rubbed), very slight rubbing to joints of binding, [Bobins 558; Colas 3074],12mo, Robert Sayer, [1772]. *** A rare collection of theatrical engravings featuring named French actors and actresses in particular roles, first published in France in 1765 with only 23 plates. This English version, with the plates re-engraved, appears to be rarer: WorldCat records only 2 copies (Pierpont Morgan Library and Harvard), the latter being defective.

Faesch, called Jean-Louis Fesch (Johann Ludwig Wernhard, c. 1738-1778) Portraits of Voltaire, Garrick and three French actors, circa 1765-1775.

Faesch (Johann Ludwig Wernhard), called Jean-Louis Fesch (c. 1738-1778), Portraits of Voltaire, Garrick and three French actors, five pen and black ink drawings, point of the brush, with watercolour and bodycolour, three heightened with gold, four on vellum, one (Voltaire) on paper, three inscribed by the artist, each further identified on later decorative wash and gilt bordered overmount, each portrait: c. 100 x 88 mm. (3 7/8 x 3 3/8 in), mount: 285 x 330 mm. (11 1/4 x 13 in), circa 1765-1775, (5) ⁂ Johann Ludwig Faesch, Swiss portrait painter and miniaturist, was also known as Fäsch, Fesch, de Fesch and, pseudonymously, Whirsker and Wirsker. During his visit to Paris in 1765, David Garrick was presented with a collection of miniature portraits by Faesch of actors at the Comedie-Francaise. The artist pursued the connection, arriving in London in May 1768 with an introduction to England's greatest actor and within two years saw the first series of his theatrical portrait engravings published by Sayer. He went on to portray many actors and actresses of the Comedie-Francaise and Comedie-Italienne in Paris and Drury Lane Theatre in London. The subjects of the present drawings, all depicted full-length and in profile, are as follows: Voltaire, the pose as the engraving by Ravenet of 1773, in reverse and with variations of costume; David Garrick as Lattier in Venice Preserv'd; Jean-Louis La Ruette as Colas in Les Chasseurs; Germain-Francois Poullain de Saint-Foix, playright and author and Preville as Boniface Chretien in Le Mercure gallant. "Fäsch is the first artist to be said with certainty to have drawn his subjects directly from actual performance." (Harvard Theatre Collection) Literature: Maria Ines Aliverti, The Miniatures of Jean Louis Faesch and their Printed Versions. A Theatrical Paper Museum, 2011 [see: http://www.actingarchives.unior.it/online, accessed 4th October 2016]

Fesch (Johann Ludwig, 1697-1778) - Costume design for Hippolyte and Thésée, from Racine's 'Phedre', Act IV

point of the brush and ink, bodycolour, graphite, heightened with gold, on vellum, 100 x 90 mm., inscribed 'Thesée/ Hippolyte/ Dans Phèdre, Act.IV.' lower centre, with further inscription on contemporary note attached to reverse that reads 'Theatre Francois/ [?] Thomas [?] Bouchard/ Molé/ 1769 - 22', minor surface dirt, circa 1769 Phèdre was first performed in 1677, and was a dramatic tragedy in five acts written in alexandrine verse by Jean Racine (1639-1699). The present drawing, according to a contemporary note on the reverse, depicts Monsieur Bouchard and Monsieur Molé in costume as Thesée and Hippolyte in a production from 1769.

Fesch (Johann Ludwig, 1697-1778) - Costume design for Hippolyte and Thésée, from Racine's 'Phedre', Act IV

point of the brush and ink, bodycolour, graphite, heightened with gold, on vellum, 100 x 90 mm., inscribed 'Thesée/ Hippolyte/ Dans Phèdre, Act.IV.' lower centre, with further inscription on contemporary note attached to reverse that reads 'Theatre Francois/ [?] Thomas [?] Bouchard/ Molé/ 1769 - 22', minor surface dirt, circa 1769 Phèdre was first performed in 1677, and was a dramatic tragedy in five acts written in alexandrine verse by Jean Racine (1639-1699). The present drawing, according to a contemporary note on the reverse, depicts Monsieur Bouchard and Monsieur Molé in costume as Thesée and Hippolyte in a production from 1769.

Johann Ludwig Wernhard FAESCH, dit Jean-Louis FAESCH (Bâle circa 1738-1778) Quinze miniatures représentant des acteurs de théâtre de la Comédie Française, du théâtre de Drury (Londres) et de la Comédie Italienne tous titrés: 'LA REINE' et 'HAMLET'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mr. Préville' et 'Mr PINCE/dans le Jambour nocturne'; 'PULCHERIE/dans Heraclius.'; 'Mr. GARRICK/in the Character of Sir JOHN BRUTE/in the provocked Wife'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mr Preville' et 'Mr. DESMASURES/dans la Fausse Agnes'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mlle Hus.' et 'JULIE/dans le Cocher supposé'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mlle Clairon.' et 'ELECTRE'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mr. Molé' et 'LE MARQUIS/dans le Jambour nocturne'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mlle Duménil' et 'AGRIPPINE/dans Britannicus'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mrs Preville d'Angé' et 'Me SANGSUE' 'Me BRIGANDEAU/dans le Mercure Galante'; 'Comedie Françoise/Mr. Brisart.' et 'ZAMTI/dans l'Orphelin de la Chine'; 'Mr De Voltaire'; 'Comedie Française/Mr. Lekain' et 'ZAMORE/dans Alzire'; 'Comedie Française/Mlle Dumesnil' et 'MEROPE'; 'Comedie Italienne/Mr. Ciavarelli' et 'SCAPIN'. gouache sur vélin rehaussé d'or et de gomme arabique, traits d'encadrement à la plume et encre brune 105 x 119 mm.; et plus petits (15)

Johann Ludwig Wernhard Faesch (circa 1738-1778)

Eighteen minitures of characters from the Drury Lane theatre including seven of David Garrick (1717-1779) five inscribed respectively 'Theatre in Drury Lane Mr. Garrick.' (on the cover sheet) and further inscribed respectively 'MR GARRICK. in the Character of King RICHARD the IIId. Act. III.' (lower centre) (illustrated a); 'MR GARRICK. in BENEDICT in Much ado about nothing'(lower centre) (illustrated b); 'MR GARRICK. in the Character of LUSIGNAN, in Zara' (lower centre, illustrated c); 'MR GARRICK/in the Character of King RICHARD. the III d.' (lower centre) (illustrated d); 'MR GARRICK in ABEL DRUGGER/in the Alchemist. Act.1.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Theatre in Drury Lane/Mr. Garrick and Mr Weston.' (on the cover sheet) and 'Mr WESTON & Mr GARRICK./in the Character of SCRUB and ARCHER, in the Stratagem.' (lower centre) (illustrated e); one inscribed 'Theatre in Drury Lane./Mr. Garrick and Miss. Bellamy.' (on the cover sheet) and 'MR GARRICK and Miss BELLAMY./in RANGER and CLARINDA. in the suspicious Husband.' (lower centre) (illustrated f); one inscribed 'Theatre in Drury Lane/Mr. King.' (on the cover sheet) and 'Mr. King in Lord OGLEBE [sic]/in the clandestine Marriage.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Theatre in D[rury Lane]/Mrs. Yar[d]' (on the cover sheet) and 'MRS. YATES/in the Character of MANBANE, in Cyrus.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Theatre in Drury Lane/Mrs. Abingdon.' (on the cover sheet) and 'MRS ABINGTON in MRS FORD. in the Merrywifes of Windsor.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne/Mr. Caillot et Me. Laruette.' (on the cover sheet) and 'Tu gardes le Silence, et tu pleures.' (inside the cover sheet) and further inscribed 'HELENE et LE BARON./Dans l'amoureux de quinze ans.'(lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne/Mr. Clairval et Me Laruette' (on the cover sheet) and 'Zemire./Ah! je me meurs. Eloignez vous,/Si vous ne voulez que j'expire./Azor./Vivez: c'est a moi d'expirer/Si vous refusez de m'entendre.' (inside the cover sheet) and further inscribed 'ZEMIRE et AZOR' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne/Mrs. Trial et Clairval.' (on the cover sheet) and 'BETRAND et MONTREAUCIEL/dans le Deserteur.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne/Mr. Clerval et Me. Laruette' (on the cover sheet) and 'CATAU LUCAS/dans Julie. Acte 2.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Itali[enne]/Mrs. Caillo[t]' (on the cover sheet) and 'SANDER ALI/dans Zemire et Azor.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne./Mad. Trial et Mad. Laruette.' (on the cover sheet) and 'ISABELLE COLOMBINE/dans le Tableau parlant.' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne/Mr. Caillot' (on the cover sheet) and 'LE DESERTEUR' (lower centre); one inscribed 'Comedie Italienne./Mr. Laruette.' (on the cover sheet) and 'JEAN LOUIS/dans the Deserteur. Acte.I.' (lower centre) pencil, watercolour and bodycolour, with gum arabic, eleven heightened with touches of gold, within the artist's black-line border, on vellum, unframed 3 7/8 x 3 1/2 in. (10 x 9 cm.) (18)