Fire

Art Historical Context

This etching and engraving titled *Fire*, created around 1748 by Jean Daullé after a design by François Boucher, captures the playful spirit of the Rococo era. Boucher, a leading French artist of the time, was celebrated for his lighthearted mythological scenes and elegant compositions favored by aristocratic patrons. Daullé’s reproductive print translates Boucher’s original painting into a detailed black-and-white image, allowing wider audiences to enjoy the work through the popular medium of prints. The subject likely forms part of a series representing the four elements, with Cupid as the central figure embodying fire’s warmth and passion. In typical Rococo fashion, the composition emphasizes graceful movement and sensual charm rather than dramatic realism. Such allegorical themes were fashionable in mid-eighteenth-century France, reflecting Enlightenment interests in nature and the senses. Prints like this one highlight the collaborative nature of eighteenth-century art production, where engravers played a vital role in disseminating painters’ ideas. Today, the work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, offering viewers a glimpse into the refined tastes and technical artistry of the period.

About the Artist

Jean Daullé|François Boucher (French|French) · 1703 |1703 –1763 |1770

French, Abbeville 1703–1763 Paris|French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris