Gilles Demarteau, After François Boucher – Winged Cupid – Pencil-style Engraving, 18th Century

A beautiful 18th-century engraving by Gilles Demarteau the Elder (1722–1776) based on a drawing by François Boucher (1703–1770), depicting a young winged Cupid in half-length view, leaning against a drapery and turning his face to the right.

The print is executed in pencil style, a technique of which Demarteau was one of the most brilliant practitioners in the 18th century and which allowed for a highly faithful reproduction of the appearance of a drawing executed in red chalk. The particularly soft modeling of the face, the curls of the hair, and the textural effects in the drapery attest to the finesse of this technique.

The composition bears, in the lower left corner, the inscription “ F. Boucher f.”, and on the right “Demarteau l’né Sculp.”, as well as the number 219, corresponding to the reference number for this print in Gilles Demarteau’s catalog of engravings.

The subject depicts one of those childlike Cupids characteristic of François Boucher’s world, whose drawings were widely distributed by Demarteau among art lovers and artists in the second half of the 18th century.

The print is mounted on an antique mat with gilded borders, set in a beautiful 19th-century gilded wooden frame, richly decorated with flowers, foliage, and ornamental motifs at the corners.

A few foxing spots and slight signs of age on the paper and mat, without detracting from the overall presentation
A few chips on the frame.
Shipping: 18 euros within France, 35 euros within the EU, and 150 euros to the rest of the world.