A Pair Of Engravings By Demarteau, After François Boucher

A pair of color prints depicting classic themes from the work of François Boucher (1703–1770), emblematic of the French Rocaille style.

• First scene: A pastoral scene depicting a young shepherd playing the pan flute beside a nude shepherdess (referenced at the bottom of the plate, likely No. 591).

• Second scene: Bathers or naiads at the water’s edge, leaning against a spilling urn amid a setting of reeds (referenced at the bottom of the plate, likely No. 589).

These works illustrate the “pencil-style” engraving technique, a process that Gilles Demarteau perfected to faithfully reproduce the texture of the chalk, red chalk, and pastel used in the original drawings.

Technical Details

• Artist of the original work: François Boucher (1703–1770)

• Engraver: Gilles Demarteau the Elder (1722–1776)

• Technique: Color engraving (pencil-style / red chalk imitation)

• Dimensions: 24 × 19 cm (image size)

• Framing: Gilded wooden frames in the Louis XVI style, adorned with a carved frieze, with an oval mat highlighted by ink lines.

Provenance and Condition

• History: The backs of the frames retain the original labels from Gilbert Lévy’s Parisian gallery (38, rue de Penthièvre, Paris), which specialized in 18th-century engravings and antique ceramics. This label attests to a classic, established commercial provenance dating to the 20th century.

• Condition: In good overall condition. The frames show slight signs of wear on the gilding, consistent with their age.