Little girl holding a garland of flowers, from "Deuxième Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France"
Original title: Little girl holding a garland of flowers, from "Deuxième Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France" (Second Book of Figures after porcelains from the Manufacture Royale de France)
kurzbeschreibung
Pierre François Tardieu made this etching after 1757. It shows a young girl seated on a rock, holding a garland of flowers. The print belongs to the series 'Deuxième Livre de Figures d'après les porcelaines de la Manufacture Royale de France' and combines etching and engraving.
Description
A rock anchors the center and shapes the symmetrical layout. The girl wears an elaborate dress decorated with flowers that swirls elegantly around her. Curly strands of hair fall across her face. Above, a cloudy sky appears, while more flowers lie on the ground in the foreground. The image remains monochrome in shades of gray, with diffuse, even light typical of etchings from this period.
Context
The series after porcelains from the Manufacture Royale de France, the royal porcelain factory at Sèvres, served as a pattern book for artists and craftsmen. The French engraver Pierre François Tardieu produced these prints in the 18th century to bring the delicate porcelain figures to a wider audience. The dating after 1757 falls in the heyday of the Rococo, when demand for such ornamental and figurative models was high.
Impact
At first the eye is drawn to the girl, then it follows the lines of the rock and the flowers. The detailed linework and graceful pose create an almost ceremonial mood. Through the symmetrical arrangement and fine shading, the print feels calm and balanced, in keeping with the decorative art of the 18th century.
Technique
Etching and engraving come together here, allowing precise linework and subtle gradations in shading. This makes it possible to render the texture of the garment and the details of the flowers faithfully. The print was made on paper measuring 25 x 19 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)