Antique 19th C Victorian LISTED Artist Flatters Print/Engraving with Watercolor Satan Forge Most HANDSOME NUDE Males!

Fine Art : Antique

 

Not to be confused with a propaganda poster for Communist Russia, or an ad for Dolce & Gabbana! This is an extraordinary steel engraving from a 1855 French edition of Paradise Lost.

It is signed Edmund Flatters, a listed (and vigorous) Victorian artist from Germany, and it has been engraved by Audibrand.

The piece which is called "Les Forges" has been hand watercolored, and shows, deep in Hell, Satan's iron forges with the most breathtaking group of working males.

Satan himself in full regalia is sitting in the left corner and supervising the job.

The gentlemen who have no clothes (it is so hot in Hell!) work around a large black anvil to make weapons. And they have the most handsome, muscular bodies.

Satan had good taste.

I must say, I am totally stunned by this Paradise Lost series. I have 2 other pieces currently listed: Eve, and the Angels sleeping in the tar lake. All these pieces have character and incredible beauty. All show the most magnificent nude bodies.

And all are 180 degrees from the more ethereal, more spiritual illustrations of their British counterparts of the same era, like Jon Martin, or earlier William Blake.

The piece is large. It was not cut off from the book, like my 2 other prints, but seems to have been a "tirage a part", a stand alone print, usually selected for being the best, which probably explains the hand coloring.

An impressive artwork, with incredible atmosphere and very modern accents, which deserves to be kept in a special portfolio or to be framed in a prestigious frame.

MEASUREMENTS: Length: 17". Width: 12 1/2". Subject 12 1/2" by 9 1/4".

CONDITION: Excellent. No foxing. Lower corners have minor blemish. slight ink smears in the margins.

The piece will be shipped Expedited from Paris (5-7 days door to door) under several layers of thick cardboard, with insurance and signature at delivery.

* * * * * * * * * MORE ANTIQUE NUDE PRINTS & DRAWINGS IN MY FINE ART/ANTIQUE CATEGORY* * * * * * * * *

Item ID: 1448PNT