Ewer and Basin

Art Historical Context

Step into the refined world of 19th French printmaking with *Ewer and Basin*, masterful etching by Jules-Finand Jacquemart from1862. Jacquemart, a leading etcher of his time, specialized in exquisitely detailed reproductions of arts, capturing the intricate beauty of historical objects like this elegant ewer—a tall, ornate pitcher—and its matching basin. Created during the Second Empire era, when France celebrated its opulent artistic heritage, this print exemplifies the revival of etching as a medium for precise documentation and aesthetic appreciation. Etching's aquatint-like technique allowed Jacquemart to render the gleaming surfaces, elaborate engravings, and subtle shadows of these metal vessels with remarkable fidelity, measuring just 9 1/16 × 6 inches on the plate. His work often graced illustrated catalogs and books, bridging art history with connoisseurship and influencing collectors' tastes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department since a 1923 gift from Theodore De Witt, this piece invites us to marvel at everyday luxury transformed into enduring art. (178 words)

About the Artist

Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart · 1837–1880

**Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart: Master Etcher and Watercolorist** Jules-Ferdinand Jacquemart was born on September 7, 1837, in Paris to Albert Jacquemart, a prominent art collector, ceramics historian, and amateur artist, and Louise Émilie Labbé. The third of four children, he received his initial training in etching from his father, who had no formal master himself and emphasized self-taught preci...