About this sheet
This is an original antique architectural design for a rococo pulpit dating approximately between 1740 and 1760.
The artist responsible for this design is Franz Xaver Habermann, and it was published by Johann Georg Hertel I in Augsburg. The design shows a richly decorated pulpit, typical of the Rococo style, which is known for its elaborate ornamentation, asymmetry, and curves. This image is one of four numbered plates related to this work. The detail in the engraving is meticulous, showcasing the elaborate aesthetic that characterized much of the European art and architecture during the mid-18th century.
Franz Xaver Habermann (1721–1796) was a German engraver and etcher who was active during the 18th century, a period marked by the Rococo style. Although not as widely known as some of his contemporaries, Habermann contributed significantly to the graphic arts during his time.
Habermann's work often featured architectural designs, such as the intricate pulpit depicted in the image you've provided. He was skilled in creating prints that detailed elaborate decorative schemes and architectural fantasies, which were popular during the Rococo period. His creations were known for their intricate details and the fluidity of their lines, capturing the lightness and ornamental excesses that characterized Rococo design.
Johann Georg Hertel I, who published Habermann's work, was part of a notable family of engravers and publishers in Augsburg, a city that was an important center for publishing in Europe at the time. The Hertel family played a significant role in disseminating artistic and architectural designs through their publications.
While specific details about Habermann’s life and training may not be as well-documented as those of major artists of his time, his surviving works suggest that he was a highly skilled engraver who had mastered the Rococo style, contributing to the spread of this aesthetic through his printed works. His designs would have influenced the tastes of the period, both within Germany and across Europe, where the appetite for such elaborate designs was significant.
More in detail about this engraving:
The text on the print is French, and it translates to English as:
"Elevation of a pulpit from the front with a full arch, placed on a Corinthian column."
This description refers to the architectural drawing of the pulpit, indicating that the design features a frontal view of the pulpit with an arch and that it is supported by a column in the Corinthian order, which is known for its ornate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls.
In our shop we also published the other three engravings in this series and they might still be on offer as well.
