Frontispiece (1738–45)
Original title: Frontispiece
kurzbeschreibung
Gabriel Huquier made this frontispiece between 1738 and 1745 as an etching with engraving. Two putti sit on a cloud, and the sheet opens the second book of children's groups after François Boucher.
Description
Two naked, curly-haired putti perch on a cloud. The one on the left has a cloth draped over his shoulder; the right one leans back and also holds fabric. Around them a landscape of clouds spreads out. Above the figures a text panel reads "SECOND LIVRE de Groupes d'Enfans Par F. BOUCHER Peintre du Roy." Thin strokes and hatching keep the motif in shades of grey; the light falls evenly and shadows are barely noticeable.
Context
Huquier, a French engraver and publisher, became known above all for reproductive prints after François Boucher. This title page belongs to a series reproducing Boucher's groups of children. Boucher was then serving as premier peintre du roi and gave the Rococo much of its momentum. Through his publications Huquier brought Boucher's work to a wider audience.
Impact
The putti come across as cheerful and graceful, entirely in the taste of the Rococo. Delicately placed lines and a balanced layout give the sheet a light, decorative charm.
Technique
Etching and engraving work together here, evident in the thin lines and the cleanly worked hatching. Figures and cloud landscape can thus be rendered in precise detail in monochrome grey tones.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)