Head of an Angel or Child

Art Historical Context

In the mid-to-late 18th century, French artists Louis Marin Bonnet and Joseph Natoire collaborated on evocative works like *Head of an Angel or*, a delicate print now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department. Bonnet, a master printmaker, likely executed this piece in "crayon"—a innovative technique using engraved plates and roulettes to mimic the soft, textured strokes of pastel crayons in vibrant red. Natoire, a prominent Rococo painter known for graceful, ornamental style, probably provided the original design, blending ethereal angelic features with the innocence of a child's face. This intimate 7½ × 5½-inch sheet captures the Rococo era's fascination with tender, idealized youth and celestial beauty, themes popular in decorative arts and religious iconography. Crayon manner prints were revolutionary, offering affordable reproductions of high-end drawings for collectors and the emerging middle class, bridging fine art and popular taste. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, this trimmed gem invites visitors to ponder its ambiguity: is it a cherub or a mortal child? Its subtle modeling and warm monochrome hue evoke a sense of quiet wonder, embodying the period's playful elegance.

About the Artist

Louis Marin Bonnet|Charles Joseph Natoire · 1736–1793

Comment on works: Copper engraver