Antique Portrait, paintings, engravings & catalogs, Alan Nelson, 1 Badgers Walk, Ferndown, BH22 9QF Dorset UK, www.antiqueportrait.com; nelso@tiscali.co.uk
CH-420
Dorset, 1 augustus 2006
Thank you for your enquiry. Here are the details of the portrait as requested. On paper 15 x 9 cm. Engraver Johann Christoph Syfang 1703—1757. Published circa 1780-90. Condition good, trimmed to image.
Regards
Alan Nelson
Bilthoven, 1 augustus 2006
Dear Alan Nelson,
Thank you very much for your information, including the scanned print.
As you may have guessed Count Meijerfeldt is an ancestor of mine.
If possible I would like to buy the print for the price mentioned (22 euros). Could you inform me how to pay? I agree with the terms and conditions that I pay before you sent me anything.
Yours sincerely,
Hugo von Meijenfeldt
Dorset, 4 augustus 2006
Dear Hugo
Thank you for your payment. Your print of Joh.August de Meyerfeldt will be packed and dispatched to you today.
If you are looking for prints of any specific sitter or place, please do not hesitate to list your requirements with us and we will notify you should any suitable print become available.
Please take a look at my other website: http://www.auction-catalog.com this site has a vast selection of auction and gallery catalogs available for sale. Auction catalogs are valued throughout the world not only as collectors’ items in their own right, but as works of reference. Auction houses take the utmost pride in publishing beautiful, high quality, illustrated catalogs to showcase exquisite and important pieces and collections in all category areas.
Please check out my Ebay Store which has a large selection of fine engravings at great prices!
Thank you for making this purchase. Your feedback on my websites would be most appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Alan Nelson
Bilthoven, 8 augustus 2006
Dear Alan,
Thank you very much for the print. I received it this morning; the postman sometimes adds the Monday to his weekend, I suppose. The quality of this print is fine. Sorry to bother you with some questions.
My first questions is the dating of the print. If the print was from 1780-1790, that would have been 50 years after his death. Did they use the copper plate for a second time? (I read somewhere that a copper plate could be used only between 300 and 800 times).
My second question is about the artist. With “Syfang” you mean “Sysang” of course. There is one source that comes up with another artist: Martin Bernigeroth (1670-1733) from Leipzig. This source is P. Martzfeld, “Die Porträttsammlung der Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel”, part 5, München 2000 (nr. A 14099). Could you check your souce?
Thirdly, I would like to ask you how the preserve the quality of the print
best, in case I frame it and hang it on the wall. Should I cover it with
(non-shining) glass?
In response to your question about other print, I indeed have an interest
for one particular print. It is again of “J.A. de Meijerfeldt”, the year
is 1735, the artist O. Tilas and the size 7,3 x 4,4 cm. I enclose a copy
of a photograph take bij the Royal Library of Stockholm (KoB P.3).
Thank you in advance for the trouble taken,
Kind regards,
Hugo
Dorset, 9 augustus 2006
Dear Hugo
Thank you for your email. Glad to hear the portrait arrive in good order. With regards the date of the print I would think it safer to say it is 18th century. Portraits were produced some time after the death, dependant on the importance of sitter. Copper plates do have a limited life, but 800 or so impressions would have been more than enough.
The attribution to Johann Christopher Sysang, 1703 – 1757 I would still say is a good one. (see http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-05,GGLD:en&q=Sysang&sa=N&tab=wi) I have had several works by Martin Bernigeroth and would say his work is far finer.
For framing I would not recommend using non reflective glass. It does prevent fading but the matt effect does spoil the appearance of the print. Just don’t hang it on a wall that receives direct sunlight and it will be fine.
If I come across any other portraits of J.A. de Meijerfeldt I will contact
you.
Regards
Alan Nelson