Giovanni David

From the series Divers / Portraits / gravés à l’eau-forte, Venice 1775. While all the other prints in the series consist of general characterisations of Venetian popular types and representatives of the merchant class and the aristocracy, the depiction of Gaspar Gribolari is a portrait of a real person. David obviously knew the second-hand dealer personally. Standing next to a fountain, probably in the outskirts of Padua, the thickset, somewhat shabbily dressed man is offering his wares for sale. Gribolari clearly deals in old engravings and pictures. He is holding out his three-cornered hat in which several engravings can be seen; under his right arm he clutches a partly hidden painting. The inscription refers to Gribolari’s eloquence in selling his goods for cash. A superb, contrasting impression with the full margins. In perfect condition.