Antique Victorian photogravure, 1881.

"Marie Touchet", after the painting by Pierre-Charles Comte [1823-1895], engraved by Goupil, 1881; printed on heavy stock paper; signed in plate " P. C. Comte, Pinx." and "Gravure Goupil et Cie.". "The Masterpieces of French Art." The description page for this print is included.

Design 7.1/4" x 9.1/4" [18.4cm x 23.5cm], the entire plate is 11.1/2" x 14.1/2" [29cm x 38cm]; a little foxing, very good condition [see photo].

Marie Touchet (1549-1638), Dame de Belleville, was the only mistress of Charles IX of France. She became mistress to Charles IX by her late teens. In 1573, she bore the king a son, Charles de Valois. It would be his only son, for just one year later the king died, at which time his and Marie's son was entrusted to the care of his younger brother and successor, Henry III of France. The new king was faithful to his dead brother's wishes and raised little Charles dutifully. Marie Touchet received a pension for her services to Charles IX, and continued as a part of the royal circle.

Marie went on to marry the marquis d'Entragues, Charles Balzac d'Entragues, and in 1579 had a daughter, Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues. Catherine Henriette would follow in her mother's footsteps, later becoming the mistress of Henry IV of France. Marie died in Paris.

In 1870s-1890s, Goupil & Cie were the leading art dealers in 19th century France, with headquarters in Paris and a network of branches in London, Brussels, The Hague, Berlin and Vienna, as well as in New York and Australia. Instrumental for this expansion was the "Ateliers Photographiques", a plant north of Paris, in Asnieres, which took up its work in 1869. The photogravures created in this plant dominated the world art market of 1880s-1890s.

The creation of the photogravure plate was a complicated process requiring a work by a photographer and experienced master-engraver. First, a copper plate was coated with a light-sensitive gelatin tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a high-quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a photograph. It is a manual process. Therefore, the quality of the photogravure depends on the masterly execution by the engraver.

Photogravures were engraved on copper plates and leave a plate impression in the paper. Due to relative softness of copper, the editions of photogravures were limited to a few thousand copies similarly to copper engravings and etchings.

Artwork will be mailed unframed.

US: Priority (c 4-10 days) ----------- $22.50
Canada: 1st Class (c 2-6 weeks) -- $32.50
World: 1st Class (c 2-8 weeks) --- $42.50