Guillaume Coustou
Medium
engraving over etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 18 x 12.4 cm (7 1/16 x 4 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1988.71.3
Art Historical Context
This engraving over etching, created in1770 by Augustin de Saint-Aubin after a design by Charles-Nicolas Cochin II, presents a portrait of the celebrated French sculptor Guillaume Coustou. The small-scale print, measuring just 18 by 12.4 centimeters on laid paper, reflects the era’s interest in honoring prominent artists through reproducible imagery. Coustou, known for his dynamic Baroque sculptures, is depicted in a manner that conveys both dignity and creative authority. The technique of engraving over etching was widely valued in 18th-century France for its ability to combine precise lines...