Un Marechal (ferrier)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

After work by P.A. Degmeir

MediumHand colored etching and engraving on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other (plate to marks including title): 12 × 8in. (30.5 × 20.3cm) Other (plate alone): 9 3/4 × 7 1/2in. (24.8 × 19.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,18A

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "81"
Lower margin reads: "Un Marechal. Ein Huff(?) oder Grobschmit./ 1. Un plumet. 1. Ein Pferd Zuschen. 2. queuës de cheval. 2. Pferd schweiff. 3. fers à chevaux. 3./ hueffeisen. 4. hache. 4. A?te. 5. cognée. 5. Benl. 6/ Sensen. 3. barre de fer. 7. Eiserne/ Stangen. 8. Etrille. 8. Striegel. 9. un unissoir. 9. Ausschneidermeßer. 10. tenailles. 10. Zane./ 11. limes. Feilen. 12. taon. 12. Bremse oder Pfez Zange. 13. marteau. 13. hamer. 14./ tablier. 14. schurzfell. 15. un chveal dans l'ancolure. 15. ein Pferd im Rothstall./ P.A. Degmie fecit./ Cum Priv. Maj./ Mart. Engelbrecht excud. 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 ferrier or blacksmith. He carries the tools of that trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) Un plumet (plume of feathers); 2. (on head) queues de cheval (horse tails); 3. (on chest over shoulders) fers a chevaux (horse shoes); 4. (on shoulders) hache (axe); 5. (on shoulders) cognee (hachet); 6. (over shoulders) faux (scythe); 7. (over shoulders) barre de fer (iron bars); 8. (at waist) Etrille (curry-comb); 9. (at waist) un unissor (a joiner); 10. (at waist) tenailles (pliers); 11. (at waist) limes (files); 12. (at waist) taon (cleg); 13. (at waist) marteau (hammer); 14. (around waist) tablier (apron); 15. (to rear of figure) un chevel dans l'encloure (horse enclosure).

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).