Un Charon (wheelwright)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

After work by I. I. Stelzer

MediumHand colored etching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 3/4in. (35.6 × 22.2cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 1/4 × 7 1/2in. (31.1 × 19.1cm) Other (plate): 10 1/4 × 7 1/4in. (26 × 18.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,5A

DescriptionUpper margin reads: "21"
Lower margin read: "Un Charon./ Ein Wangner./ 1. une roüe de Carosse. 1. ein Guflehen Rad. 2. petite roüe de chariot. 2. Wägon Rädel. 3. un maillet. 3. ein t?/ führ Schlegel .4. un ciseau à bois. 4. ein Steinisen. 5. un cocteau à deaux manches. 5. ein Schneidmeßer. 6. un/ Ciseau. 6. ein Schnißer. 7. un marteau. 7. ein Häuter/ 8. un hacherot. 8. ein Dachsel .9. des tenailles. 9. eine ?einß/ Zange. 10. un foret. 10. ein Bohrer. 11. une lime à
bois. 11. ein Holßrasvel. 12. un gros foret. 12. ein Durchser. 13. un/ tranchant. 133. ein Schrof. Auf. 14. un couteau à deaux manches. 14. ein Schneidmeßer. 15. un foret à pierrre. 15. ein Win/belhohrer. 16 . une échauchoir. 16. in langes ?. 17. un marteau. 17. ein Schiefschlegel. 18. Devantier. 18. Daß Schur?Sell./ I.I. Stelzer fecit/ Cum Priv. Maj./ M. Engelbrecht ex. A.V."
Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of a wheelwright. He carries the tools of that trade and objects on his person as follows: 1. (resting from his right hand to the ground) une roue de Carosse (a wheel for a coach); 2. (round neck) petite roue de chariot (a small wheel for a chariot); 3. (resting on chest) un maillet (a hammer); 4. (hanging from small wheel) un ciseau a bois ( scissors for wood); 5. (hanging from small wheel) un couteau a deux manches (a knife with 2 handles); 6. (hanging from small wheel) un ciseau (scissors); 7. (hanging from small wheel) un marteau (hammer); 8. (waist) un hacherot (hachet); 9. (waist) des tenailles (pliers); 10. (waist) un foret (drill); 11. (waist) une lime a bois (file for wood); 12. (waist) un gros foret (large drill); 13. (waist) un tranchant (edger); 14. (waist) un couteau a deux manches (knife with 2 handles); 15. (waist) un foret a pierre (drill for stone); 16. (on stone beside figure) une ebauchoir (tool used in rough-hewing); 17. (on ground) un marteau (hammer); 18. (cover for figure) devantier (apron).

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).