The Ricky Jay Collection Part III

[ARMLESS CALLIGRAPHY]. SACHS, Simon. Elaborate Calligraphed Work by the Armless and Legless Artist. German, ca. 1711 [?]. Finely detailed drawing, likely a wedding certificate, bearing a full-length image of a man and woman at the top with a self-portrait of the artist at the bottom, showing him resting on a bench between two candles; the calligrapher has neither hands nor legs. German text within an extremely fine and detailed floral border commemorates the union of the couple pictured at the apex of the image and flanking either side of the artist’s self-portrait is an inscription reading, “I, Simon Sachs, have written this without hand or feet.” Decorative text below likely dates the work. Gilt wooden frame, matted; sight 12 ½ x 14 ¼”. Not examined out of frame. Provenance: the Shevlove collection, sold at auction July 27, 1983.