Femme de Naples, plate 2 from "Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet"
Original title: Femme de Naples, plate 2 from "Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet" (Collection of Various Foreign Figures, Devised by F. Boucher, Painter of the King and Engraved [etched] by F. Ravenet)
kurzbeschreibung
This print from the 18th century shows a Neapolitan woman in traditional dress, holding a rooster in her arms. The image belongs to a series of etchings and engravings that Simon Francis Ravenet the Elder produced after designs by François Boucher. The printmaking technique combines etching and engraving.
Description
The woman stands at the center of the sheet, wearing a long-sleeved dress with elaborate patterning; a cloth covers her hair. Her expression is calm and pensive, her gaze turned slightly aside. A wall and an implied window close off the background, while sketchy plants and flowers appear in the foreground. The arrangement is symmetrical, kept monochrome in shades of gray; varying line density creates light and shadow.
Context
François Boucher, who held the office of Premier Peintre du Roi, supplied the designs for this series. The French engraver Simon Francis Ravenet the Elder translated them into etching and engraving in the 18th century. Figure series of this kind were highly popular in the Rococo period and served decorators and craftsmen as models. The interest in exotic and regional costumes of the time is reflected in the choice of a Neapolitan woman as the subject.
Impact
The woman's posture is calm, and the careful linework lends the sheet a noble restraint. Because the print remains monochrome, the precision of the drawing stands out clearly; the result is a classical, timeless quality.
Technique
The sheet was executed in etching and engraving, with the lines etched or incised into the printing plate. Varying line density provides the light-dark contrasts; fabric patterns and plants are finely worked in detail. The paper measures 26.4 × 15.8 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)