Offered by Galerie Pellat de Villedon
Furniture, works of art and paintings
Le Marchand de lunettes, after J.-B. Le Prince and Isadore Stanislas Helman, after 1776, pastel on paper, giltwood frame stamped A. Levert (master in 1774) and T.S. Vasseur.
Size (H x W): 53,5 x 43,5 cm.
The subject of this beautiful pastel is taken from an engraving after a painting by the famous painter Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, taken up and engraved by Helman in 1776. It was then part of the novelties in the Journal de Politique et de littérature of January 5, 1776 (published in the chapter 'Almanach', p. 561). The subject is described as follows:
"The subject of this piquant print & the details are very pleasant. It is a lover disguised as a dealer in optical curiosities. The old man who is to be deceived tries out a telescope at the window, and appears to be ecstatic about the extent to which his sight is enhanced by this aid. During this test the young man is at the knees of his mistress, who laughs at the credulity of the old man. Perhaps the lover's face should be more animated.
But in total this print does honor to the painter who provided the subject, & engraver who multiplied the copies".
Jean-Baptiste Le Prince (1734-1781), is a French painter and engraver. He is the brother of the author of the tale "La Belle et Bête". Le Prince studied in Metz and went to Paris at the invitation of the Duke of Belle Isle. There he became a pupil of François Boucher. In Paris he developed a very personal style based on genre scenes which he multiplied after his numerous trips, the most famous of which was to Russia.
In 1765, he was accepted at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
Small tears and wear.
