The Roman Studio (L'Atelier de Rome)
1885
Medium
etching and aquatint on green laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 16.9 x 11.4 cm (6 5/8 x 4 1/2 in.) sheet: 32.5 x 20.2 cm (12 13/16 x 7 15/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bell, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Accession Number
1992.59.6
Art Historical Context
Step into the intimate world of *The Roman Studio (L'Atelier de Rome)*, a captivating 1885 etching and aquint by French artist Albert Besnard. delicate print, measuring just 16.9 x 11.4 cm on its plate, invites viewers into the creative heart of a Roman artist's workspace. Besnard, renowned for his style blending Realism with emerging Symbolist influences, masterfully rendered this scene on unusual green laid paper, whose subtle texture and hue enhance the atmospheric depth. Etching and aquatint were Besnard's tools of choice here, showcasing his technical virtuosity. Etching creates precise ...
About the Artist
Albert Besnard
Paul-Albert Besnard, known as Albert Besnard, was born on June 2, 1849, in Paris to an artistic family: his father, Louis Adolphe Ferdinand Besnard, was a history painter and pupil of Ingres, while his mother, Marie Louise Pauline Vaillant, was a noted miniaturist trained under Lizinska de Mirbel. Precociously talented, he began his training under Jean-François Brémond before entering the École de...