← Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder

Reverse copy of Chaudronier Chaudronier (Boilermaker Boilermaker), plate 2 from "Le Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris)

Original title: Reverse copy of Chaudronier Chaudronier (Boilermaker Boilermaker), plate 2 from "Le Cris de Paris" (The Cries of Paris)

Artist

Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder

Date

18th century

Medium

Etching and engraving

Dimensions

Sheet: 10 13/16 x 7 1/2 in. (27.5 x 19 cm) trimmed

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1966

kurzbeschreibung

Where the other sheets in 'Le Cris de Paris' turn their attention elsewhere, this etching singles out a coppersmith, recorded by Simon Francis Ravenet the elder in the 18th century in etching and engraving. The subject comes from a series capturing the daily round of Paris street traders and craftsmen. This particular plate is a reversed copy.

Description

A man in a large hat and a jacket frayed in several places stands in the foreground, holding a long stick or hammer. Beside him on a table sit a large bowl or pan and another vessel. A second figure appears at the rear, looking through a doorway and seemingly in conversation with the coppersmith. The arrangement feels balanced, with the man's figure as its steady anchor. Hatching and linework define the monochrome image.

Context

'Le Cris de Paris' documents the typical trades and calls of Paris street traders and was made in the 18th century. Simon Francis Ravenet the elder, a French engraver who worked in London, is responsible for this plate. That it is a reversed copy means the model was transferred mirror-fashion, a common practice in the print trade for spreading works or filling out collections.

Impact

The sheet offers a lively glimpse into the working world of the 18th century. Clear line and a calm layout give the subject a sober, documentary feel. The link between the figure in front and the one behind lends the scene narrative depth and draws the viewer in.

Technique

Etching and additional engraving meet in this work, making fine lines and detailed hatching possible. Textures and shadows can thus be rendered precisely, as they emerge in the clothing and the objects. The sheet was printed on paper and trimmed to 27.5 x 19 cm.

AI-generated description text

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