Caption

Cupid, after a drawing by François Boucher (1703–1770), engraved and published by Gilles Demarteau (1722–1776), 1772, Paris. Engraving in the manière de crayon reproducing a single putto taken from Boucher’s study for Venus in Vulcan’s Forge. Demarteau, a noted French engraver and publisher, specialized from 1757 in the crayon technique (using a roulette) and produced finely graded prints from two plates to evoke black and sanguine crayons; admitted to the Académie Royale in 1769 and appointed Engraver of the Royal Cabinet in 1770. Many of his some 560 numbered plates were after Boucher (about 266). Boucher, influential French Rococo painter and draftsman, regularly used pastels and preparatory drawings that Demarteau reproduced; the present print demonstrates Demarteau’s practice of isolating and sometimes enhancing a figure from Boucher’s compositional sketches. Print (engraving), 1772; 26.0 × 29.5 cm.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A39_471

License type

Rights managed

Available size

38.7Mb (9.8Mb) / 13.1in x 11.5in / 3915 x 3458 (300dpi)

Keywords

Cupid drawing François Boucher 1703–1770 engraved published Gilles Demarteau 1722–1776 1772 Paris Engraving manière de crayon reproducing single putto Boucher’s study Venus Vulcan’s Forge Demarteau noted French engraver publisher specialized 1757 crayon technique using roulette produced finely graded prints two plates evoke black sanguine crayons admitted Académie Royale 1769 appointed Engraver Royal Cabinet 1770 560 numbered plates Boucher 266 influential French Rococo painter draftsman regularly pastels preparatory drawings Demarteau reproduced present print demonstrates Demarteau’s practice isolating sometimes enhancing figure Boucher’s compositional sketches Print engraving classical drawing cherubic child small wings shown torso up leaning soft surface child curly hair rounded cheeks upward gaze arm rests forward open hand visible hand gently touches fabric beneath wings feathery attached child's upper back background shaded diagonal strokes creating textured backdrop composition framed rectangular mat multiple borders Predominant colors visible beige cream brown black touches reddish-brown.