Fille de St. Jean de Patmos, Isle de l'Archipel, plate 6 from "Recueil de diverses fig.res étrangeres Inventées par F. Boucher P.tre du Roy et Gravées par F. Ravenet"
Original title: Fille de St. Jean de Patmos, Isle de l'Archipel, plate 6 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
A woman in traditional dress carries a basket of flowers. The image comes from Simon Francis Ravenet the Elder, who produced it as an etching and engraving after a design by François Boucher in the 18th century. It belongs to a series of exotic or foreign figures.
Description
The woman stands at the center, dressed in a long, pleated gown with a cloak or scarf wrapped around her. Her hair is tied in a knot, and a necklace rests at her throat. In her left hand she holds a basket filled with flowers or plants. Trees and a hill form the background, which is less detailed and thus makes the figure stand out. The rendering is monochrome with even lighting, typical of etchings of the period.
Context
The print was made in the mid-18th century as part of a series after designs by François Boucher, executed by Ravenet. Boucher, First Painter to the King, shaped French Rococo art. The depiction of foreign figures met contemporary interest in exotic motifs, fed by travel accounts and trade contacts.
Impact
The layout is calm and symmetrical, and the delicate linework gives the sheet an elegant, decorative effect. Clothing and accessories are rendered in detail and invite close looking, while the pared-back background emphasizes the figure.
Technique
Etching and engraving are used together, allowing fine and precise lines. The technique permits nuanced shading that makes the folds and textures of the clothing appear three-dimensional. The monochrome palette is characteristic of 18th-century prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)