Copper engraving on paper; hand colored
Switzerland, around 1797
Matthias Gottfried Eichler (1748-1818) – German draftsman and engraver
After a painting by Gérard de la Barthe (1730-1810)
Signed and inscribed lower right ‘M. G. Eichler sculpsit.‘ and inscribed lower left ‘Guerard de la Barthe pinxit. 1794.’
Titled in Cyrillic and French lower center ‘Vûe du Kremlin à Moscou prise du Pont de pierre. […]’
Image size: 39 x 65 cm
Condition: restored edge cracks

The German draftsman and engraver Matthias Gottfried Eichler was commissioned by the merchant and art dealer John (Jean) Walser around 1797. Eichler and a number of further engravers were prompted to produce the so called ‘Russian Brochures’ comprised of twelve essential views of Moscow. Paintings by Gérard de la Barthe (1730-1810) and other Russia-based artists were thereby used as templates. The present work is a hand colored copper engraving, executed after a painting by Barthe in 1794. It shows a view of the Kremlin in Moscow, in the light of the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge leading across the Moskva River.



The print is signed and inscribed beneath the depiction to the right ‘M. G. Eichler sculpsit.’ and also inscribed to the left ‘Guerard de la Barthe pinxit. 1794.’. Besides, it is titled in Cyrillic and French lower center ‘Vûe du Kremlin à Moscou prise du Pont de pierre. Entrepris aux fraix de Jean Walser Negociant de la première Classe à Moscau, publié en 1799 avec Privilége de Sa Majesté Imperiale Paul Premier Empereur de toutes les Russies.’. The sheet is in good condition considering its age. The paper shows faint light staining and crease marks, especially along the edges. Larger cracks have been professionally restored and supported from the backside. The lower left corner of the sheet is missing and there are a few small traces of paint in the lower right corner. The image size is 39 x 65 cm and the sheet size is 49 x 72 cm. The sheet is mounted onto cardboard and matted.



Matthias Gottfried Eichler (1748-1818)

Matthias Gottfried Eichler was born as the scion of a family of artists and therefore received his first artistic training under his father in Augsburg. He then became a student of Georg Philipp Rugendas the Younger (1701-1774) and Johann Gottfried Thelott (1711-1775). In 1767 he moved to Mannheim, where he continued his studies under Aegidius Verhelst (1733-1804) and at the Academy of Drawing. In 1774 Eichler moved to Basel, in order to support Christian von Mechel (1737-1817) in a project. Since 1778 Eichler was active for booksellers like Balthasar Anton Dunker (1746-1807) in Bern. Around 1797 he was one of the artists commissioned by the merchant and art dealer John (Jean) Walser to execute the so called ‘Russian Brochures’ in Herisau, canton Appenzell. Eichler returned to Augsburg in 1805, where he was appointed one of the directors of the Art Academy in 1812. (cbo)

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