Gigantism.- Human fountain.- Hirschmann (Thomas) Vera Effigies Filippo Giuliani..., etching, an excellent well inked impression on laid paper with indistinct watermark, sheet 300 x 187 mm (11 3/4 x 7 1/4 in), trimmed to or just within the platemark, small loss in the upper left corner, and lower right corner, repaired tear to the head of figure, hinged onto mount, unframed, 1680
⁂ Portrait of travelling showman Filippo Giuliani, known for his great height, and his ability to spew fountains of water from his mouth, as seen in the back right of the image.
An advertisement for Jouliani Scotto, presumably the same performer, read: “The great Scot will drink an unbelievable amount of water, which he will change into wine of every kind, milk, beer, ink and fragrant liquids of different scents . . . He will cause lettuce to come out of his mouth, as fresh as it is when sold in the marketplace, two plates with live fish, roses, carnations, tulips and many other flowers, as lovely and fresh as they grow in a garden in springtime, live birds, 300 or 400 gold pieces, neckties, cuffs, lace, ribbons and a thousand other oddities, which one cannot describe and which appear to go beyond the powers of the imagination” [E. G. Happel, Größte Denkwürdigkeiten der Welt oder Relationes curiosae. Hamburg, 1683]
A limited number of printed catalogues are available to purchase for this auction.
UK: £35 (incl. postage)
Rest of World: £50 (incl. postage)
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