Portrait of Ferdinand Kobell - Christian Jakob Schlotterbeck

A refined 1806 portrait etching of the painter Ferdinand Kobell by Christian Jakob Schlotterbeck, presented as a rare proof before letters.

This portrait depicts the German painter and etcher Ferdinand Kobell. Executed by Christian Jakob Schlotterbeck in 1806, the work demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century printmaking. The subject is presented within a formal oval frame, a common convention for portraiture of the period, which directs the viewer's attention to the sitter's features and expression.

Schlotterbeck employs a combination of etching and engraving techniques to achieve tonal variation. The cross-hatching within the background provides a textured contrast to the smoother rendering of the subject's face and clothing. The sitter wears a coat with a ruffled cravat, reflecting the fashion of the era. Below the oval frame, a blank cartouche is integrated into the composition, intended for the inclusion of the sitter's name or biographical details.

The print is an 'épreuve avant la lettre', or a proof before letters, meaning it was pulled before the final text was added to the plate. This state is particularly valued by collectors for its clarity and the absence of later additions. The inscription at the bottom, written in pencil, identifies the sitter and the printmaker, providing provenance for this specific impression. The composition is balanced and restrained, adhering to the aesthetic principles of the time. The focus remains on the individual, captured with a sense of quiet dignity. This work offers a glimpse into the professional circles of German artists during the Napoleonic era, documenting the appearance of a contemporary figure through the medium of fine printmaking.