Blood Engraving By Gilles Demarteau

Very nice engraving in the manner of red chalk and pencil, entitled "The oyster merchant" by the famous engraver Gilles Demarteau (1750 - 1802), after a work by Jean-François Clermont (1717 - 1807). It is framed with a mat and in a beautiful gilded frame around 1900. Born in Liège in 1722, Gilles Demarteau joined his goldsmith brother in Paris around 1748 where he became friends with Fragonard, Carle Van Loo and François Boucher. He brings the pencil-style engraving process to perfection. Signed lower left 'Par Clermont Professeur de l Acad de Rheims'. Below: 'LE MARCHAND D'HUITRES / In Paris chés Demarteau Engraver of the King rue de la Pelterie a la Cloche'. No. 454. Good condition, some small gaps in the frame