MOUNT PARNASSUS. After Eustache Le Sueur
Mercury is seated behind MInerva in the centre, he points at a tablet that Minerva is holding. Around them are the Muses, and the Three Graces are above them. In the foreground centre we see a reclining River God, and in the bottom right putti are playing with a swan. Lovely classical theme print, a very busy scene with much to admire.
By BERNARD PICART (French, 1673-1733) Signed and fully inscribed in the caption area at the bottom.
Good size - Size of the platemark area is 16 x 21 centimetres.
The print comes from the publication "Innocent Impostures: or, A collection of prints after various illustrious painters.." published posthumously by Picart's widow in 1734 - a year after his death. The work was published in Amsterdam, Chez La Veuve De Bernard Picart; Sur le Cingel, MDCCXXXIV [1734] Plate number 45 at top right corner.
CONDITION. Very good. No problems. Printed on "laid" paper, the platemark is intact and there are good margins beyond.
References:
Check it out in the British Museum, London: 1861,1109. 787
Dimier (1928) Les peintres francais du XVIIIe siecle, histoire des vies et catalogue des oeuvres.
Royal Academy of Arts London (library) ref. 07/2328 for the volume and well as the British Museum's copy.
BERNARD PICART was born in Paris in 1673, son of Etienne Picart (called "Le Romain"), also an engraver. Bernard studied art and engraving under Charles Le Brun, Benoit Audran and Sebastien LeClerc, all top-rank masters. In 1711 he moved to Amsterdam, having previously obtained several engraving commissions from that city. He went on to become one of the finest engravers of his age, and was very prolific, working on many major important projects. When he died, his widow published the prestigious volume from which the present print comes, largely a selection of his engravings after the Old Masters, as well as his own compositions which were entirely in the Old Master tradition. Picart is a "museum quality" artist, and his work can be found in most of the leading museums worldwide. The British Museum has over 1000 of his prints, including the full set of the "Innocentes Impostures...."
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