Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-538-232
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Jean Mariette (1660–1742), a prominent French engraver, print publisher, and dealer, created this print in 1727, during the vibrant Regency era in France. Operating from Paris, Mariette was a key figure in the art world, specializing in reproductive prints that faithfully captured the elegance of contemporary paintings by masters like Watteau or Rubens. His workshop bridged the gap between original artworks in royal collections and a growing market of collectors, making high art more widely accessible. As a print medium, this work highlights the technical mastery of 18th-century engraving, where intricate lines and tonal gradations brought paintings to life on paper. Prints like this were essential cultural tools, disseminating styles that foreshadowed the Rococo movement's ornate grace amid France's shifting political landscape under the young Louis XV. Acquired for the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the Advisory Council and housed in the Smithsonian Collection, this piece reflects transatlantic artistic exchange. Ongoing research promises to reveal more about its precise subject, enriching our understanding of Mariette's legacy.