← Benoit Audran the Elder

Plate 17: The exchange of the two princesses in Hendaye; allegorical scene with Anne of Austria and Elizabeth of Bourbon standing on a bridge holding hands

Original title: Plate 17: The exchange of the two princesses in Hendaye; allegorical scene with Anne of Austria and Elizabeth of Bourbon standing on a bridge holding hands, from "Recueil de la Galerie du Luxembourg"

Artist

Benoit Audran the Elder

Date

1707–10

Medium

Engraving

Dimensions

Sheet: 19 15/16 x 14 1/8 in. (50.7 x 35.8 cm) Plate: 19 7/8 x 13 15/16 in. (50.5 x 35.4 cm)

Credit line

Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011

kurzbeschreibung

Benoit Audran the Elder produced this engraving between 1707 and 1710, an allegorical scene of the exchange of princesses at Hendaye. On a bridge, Anne of Austria and Elisabeth of Bourbon meet and join hands, while putti hover in the air. The print belongs to the 'Recueil de la Galerie du Luxembourg', reproducing a painting by Peter Paul Rubens.

Description

Two princesses stand facing each other on a bridge over a river, holding hands. Around them, putti float and weave floral garlands. Behind the figures, richly decorated curtains and more putti appear. Below the bridge, two figures recline—a triton and a mermaid—presenting precious fabrics and treasures. The graded gray tones and symmetrical arrangement emphasize the clean, precise linework.

Context

The engraving was made for the 'Recueil de la Galerie du Luxembourg', a series of copper engravings after the paintings by Peter Paul Rubens in the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris. Rubens had created the cycle on commission from Marie de' Medici to celebrate her life and political significance. The motif refers to the Peace of Hendaye (1619), when princesses were exchanged between France and Spain. Audran was a French engraver admired for his exact reproductions of Baroque painting.

Impact

The symmetrical layout and precise linework capture the Baroque splendor of the original. The hovering putti and allegorical figures create a solemn, almost theatrical mood. The detailed engraving draws the viewer into the courtly symbolic world of the 17th century.

Technique

For this etching, lines were bitten into a copper plate that had previously been treated with acid. The gray values result from the varying depth and density of the etched lines. Audran used the process to bring out fine shading and details that correspond to the painted originals.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)