Pair Of Large 18th-century Engravings After Paintings From Madame De Pompadour's Collection

Pair of large engravings (full sheets) engraved with remarkable precision after paintings by François Boucher belonging to the favorite of King Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, who during her reign of heart was the arbiter of French taste in the middle of the 18th century. One, "The Two Confidantes", is due to the drypoint of Jean Ouvrier (1725-1784) who was also a goldsmith in Paris. He notably reproduced several paintings by Boucher. The other, "Interrupted Sleep," is by Nicolas Dauphin de Beauvais (1688-1763), officially the King's engraver. The subjects, as always with François Boucher, emblematic of the Rococo style, are of extreme refinement, with a touch of playful mischief appropriate for the monarch's private life. They were remarkably framed at the end of the 19th century in gilt-leaf moldings in the style of the period. There are some minor imperfections on the sides of the moldings, which can be repaired upon request.