Stunning large colour etching by this well known master Australian printmaker, number 3 from the small edition of 15. This etching is of the Henri IV full face helmet. Between 2001 -2002, Raymond Arnold made a suite of eight etchings in response to a painting he saw in the Louvre of Henri IV of France in full armour. The series was also inspired by a trip to First World War graves in France, where his grandfather and many other young Australian men died in action. In each print Arnold depicts one of the component parts from a suit of armour against a ground of synthetic lace. The armour is overlaid with a traditional Provencal textile design that goes back centuries but is still found on todays French market stalls. The sense of both strength and vulnerability evoked by the armour plays against the associations of the lace and the traditional pattern: delicacy but cheapness, implicit expendability and working-class origins. The images bring together a variety of themes including war, violence, the fragility of the male body, the use of young working-class men as gun fodder in the war, and collective memory. Source V &A. References: Butler NGA, Australian Prints Collections: Art Gallery New South Wales National Gallery Australia National Gallery Victoria Queensland Art Gallery Victoria & Albert Museum Artist: Raymond Arnold Image Size: 588mm x 695mm (23.1" x 27.3"). Paper Size: 588mm x 785mm (23.1" x 31"). Condition: In good condition. Technique: Color etching and soft-ground etching on paper. Seller Inventory # ARNO HENR 004

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Henri IV - Le Casque [Helmet]

Publication Date: 2001

Binding: No Binding

Condition: Very Good

Store Description

Antique Print and Map Room is the largest specialist dealer of rare antique maps and prints in Australia. Established in 1979, our gallery is located in Ultimo, near Sydney's city centre (5 minute walk from the Powerhouse Museum). Our extensive stock is available for purchase online or in our gallery. Our collection includes items from almost every geographical area and spans historical periods from the 15th to the 20th centuries. We have a particular focus on maps and prints charting the early discoveries and cultural exchanges of the East Indies, Pacific and Australia. This includes one of the largest and compelling collections of natural history in Australia. We stock only the highest quality material and guarantee the items are described as in the condition reports on our website. Since our founding, we have become a trusted source of prized historical material for collectors and prestigious national and international institutions and several important private collections. We are members of the following professional associations: AAADA, ANZAAB, ILAB, CINOA.

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Antique Print & Map Room
Shop 189, 392 Jones Street, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

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