"La Bergere Couronnee" (The Crowned Shepherdess), 18th-century engraving after a painting by Francois Boucher.

ARTIST
Jean-Francois Janinet (French, 1752 - 1814)
AFTER
Francois Boucher (1703-1770).
DATE
n.d.
MEDIUM
Lavis-manner (wash manner), also known as chalk-manner engraving.

DIMENSIONS
Image: 6 7/8 x 8 9/16 in. (17.5 x 21.7 cm)
Plate: 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 in. (21.6 x 26.7 cm)
Sheet: 10 5/8 x 13 in. (27 x 33 cm)

Jean-Francois Janinet is known primarily as a noted printmaker who was a past master in the technique of multi-plate colour prints. Janinet excelled above all in the so-called maniere de lavis technique, a sophisticated and complicated printing process eminently well suited to transferring the very popular watercolours and gouaches of artists such as Nicholas Lavreince, Pierre Antoine Baudouin and Jacques Charlier to the medium of printmaking.

Subject Matter:
This print depicts a pastoral scene, a common theme in Boucher's work, showcasing a shepherdess being adorned and tended to by a shepherd, symbolizing love and innocent amusements in an idealized rural setting.

Artistic Style:
Boucher was a key figure in the Rococo movement, and this piece exemplifies his signature style, characterized by idyllic, pastoral scenes and a focus on themes of love and leisure.

Historical Significance:
Prints like this helped disseminate Boucher's work and the Rococo style throughout Europe during the 18th century, making them significant examples of the era's artistic trends.

INSCRIBED
bottom left: Careme del.; bottom right: Janinet direx.; bottom center: LA BERGERE COURONNEE / A Paris chez la Veuve Avaulez rue St. Jacques a la Ville de Rouen A.P.D.R.; verso bottom center: 2. Cail N 1 APG 13209/2

An identical chalk-manner engraving from this plate is on display at the Palmer Museum of Art at Pennsylvania State University.

A similarly-themed, black and white engraving by Rene Gallard, Le Berge Recompense (The Rewarded Shepard), is on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with many others of Jean-Francois Janinet's works after Francois Boucher and other prominent 18th-19th Century painters. Numerous additional colored engraving works of similar caliber to this one by Janinet's are on display at the Harvard Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art and Janinet's meticulous works are displayed at renowned museums throughout the globe.

Method:
Wash manner, printed in blue, red, carmine, yellow, and black inks with printed title.

The image was printed in four colors from four plates in the delicate lavis-manner (or wash manner) technique that duplicates the look of airy washes of ink or watercolor.

Historical Significance:
Prints like this helped disseminate Boucher's work and the Rococo style throughout Europe during the 18th century, making them significant examples of the era's artistic trends.
The image shows an 18th-century chalk-manner engraving titled "La Bergere Couronnee" (The Crowned Shepherdess).

Artist:
Jean-Francois Janinet (French, 1752 - 1814), a highly regarded engraver known for his innovative multi-plate color printing method.

Medium:
Chalk-manner engraving, a technique that mimics the appearance of chalk drawings.

Subject:
A pastoral scene depicting a shepherdess being crowned, reflecting the popular genre scenes of the era.

Significance:
Janinet's works, including this piece, are notable for their ability to replicate the look of watercolor paintings through his advanced color printing technique.

This is a very rare print and hard to find. Though various examples of this imagined scene and many variations were created over time. This is a unique interpretation.


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: This is a lovely, antique piece. Well-preserved. There may be some imperfections in the frame or the print, as it is aged. Please examine photos carefully.

Origin:
France

Creator:
Styled After: Boucher

Materials & Techniques:
Paper, Printmaking Materials

Details:
What type of item is it? Vintage / Antique / Used
Art Subjects: Botanic, Figure, Landscape
Frame Type: Framed
Country of Origin: France

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; This is a lovely, antique piece. Well-preserved. There may be some imperfections in the frame or the print, as it is aged. Please examine photos carefully.