Study for an Engraving of "Songs in the Opera of Flora"
ca. 1737
Medium
Pen and black ink with black chalk underdrawing
Dimensions
2 13/16 x 3 15/16 in. (7.2 x 10 cm.)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1944
Accession Number
44.54.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Hubert François Gravelot, a leading French Rococo artist and engraver active in the early 18th century, created this delicate *Study for an Engraving of "Songs in the Opera of Flora"* around 1737. Gravelot, known for his elegant illustrations in books and theatrical designs, bridged French and English art scenes after moving to London. This preparatory drawing captures the whimsical spirit of Rococo, with its graceful lines evoking the mythological opera centered on Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring—likely a lavish production blending music, dance, and opulent costumes. Executed ...
About the Artist
Hubert François Gravelot
Hubert-François Bourguignon, known as Gravelot (1699–1773), was a leading French Rococo engraver, illustrator, and designer whose elegant draftsmanship bridged the artistic worlds of France and England. Born in Paris to a tailor, he adopted his pseudonym from a godfather and grew up alongside his elder brother, the geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville. After neglecting studies at the Col...