Astronomy
Original title: Astronomy
kurzbeschreibung
Two putti hover on a cloud: one holds a telescope, the other embraces a celestial globe. Louis Félix de La Rue captured this motif in an etching, undated, measuring 19.9 x 28.1 cm. The sheet is among the allegorical representations of astronomy.
Description
Two winged boys sit on a cloud. The left one holds a telescope before him and peers out, while the right one grasps a globe and also directs his gaze into the distance. Clouds fill the background, and beside them a portion of a book is visible. At the lower edge appear the title 'L'Astronomie' and the inscriptions 'F. Baucher inv.' and 'Huquier ec rue des mathurins C.P.R.' The layout is mirror-like, with both figures occupying the center, and the light is evenly distributed.
Context
The eighteenth century brought allegorical images of the sciences into fashion, and this sheet belongs to that context. Louis Félix de La Rue, a French draughtsman and engraver, was known for ornamental and mythological works. A drawing by F. Baucher served as the model; the publisher Huquier worked in Paris. Such prints were used as reproductive graphics or for decoration.
Impact
Balanced and harmonious, the sheet achieves its effect through its mirror-like arrangement and calm lines. Playful lightness in the putti and their instruments combines with a lofty allegorical ambition. The monochrome print brings out the precision of the drawing and the classicizing formal language.
Technique
Etching, an intaglio process, was used: the drawing is scratched into an acid-resistant layer on a copper plate and then etched. When printed, the paper takes up the ink from the recessed lines. Even strokes and fine hatching produce a clear, high-contrast impression.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)