Departure of the Ship

Art Historical Context

"Departure of the Ship," an engraving from around 1770, captures the drama of maritime life through the skilled hands of engraver Anne Philibertelet, after a composition by the renowned French painter Joseph Vernet Vernet, a master of marine landscapes during the Rococo and early Neoclassical periods, was celebrated for his vivid depictions of ports, storms, and calm seas—often commissioned for royal collections like those at Versailles. This print likely reproduces one of his dynamic seascapes, evoking the bustling energy of ships setting sail amid waves and distant horizons. Engraving, as a medium, was revolutionary in the 18th century, allowing detailed reproductions of paintings to reach a wider audience beyond elite patrons. Coulet's precise incisions on the copper plate translate Vernet's atmospheric effects—rippling water, billowing sails, and fleeting light—into intricate lines that reward close viewing. Measuring 12½ × 14⅜ inches (trimmed), its intimate scale invites museum visitors to trace every etched detail, from rigging to foam. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, this work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department highlights the era's fascination with exploration and naval power during the Age of Sail. It reminds us how prints bridged art and everyday wonder, making Vernet's stormy spectacles accessible to all.

About the Artist

Anne Philiberte Coulet|Joseph Vernet (French|French) · 1736 |1714 –1800 |1789

French, born 1736|French, Avignon 1714–1789 Paris