Allegorie des Mariages Faits par la Ville de Paris a la Naissance du Duc de Bourgogne

Art Historical Context

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin *Allegorie des Mariages Faits par la de Paris a la Na du Duc de Bourgogne*1751) is a etching that captures the exuberant spirit of mid-18th France. Created to celebrate the birth of Louis Duke of Burgundy—son of the Dauphin Louis and heir to the throne—this allegorical print depicts the City of Paris symbolically arranging marriages, evoking themes of union, prosperity, and royal amid the lavish Rococo era under Louis XV. Saint-Aubin, a prolific Parisian engraver renowned for his intricate vignettes and satirical glimpses of urban life, masterfully employs etching techniques on cream laid paper. The medium allows for fine, expressive lines that bring allegorical figures to life within the compact dimensions (image: 15.6 × 12.2 cm). As a print, it was designed for wide dissemination, reflecting the era’s fascination with ephemeral public festivities and the intersection of art with royal propaganda. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department, this work exemplifies how etchings democratized art, making courtly celebrations accessible to a broader audience. Its whimsical yet precise style highlights Saint-Aubin’s enduring legacy in documenting the social vibrancy of pre-Revolutionary Paris.

About the Artist

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin · 1724–1780

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin (14 April 1724 – 14 February 1780) was born in Paris into an artistic family — one of fourteen children of the court embroiderer and engraver G.-G. de Saint-Aubin. Art ran deep in the family: his brothers Charles Germain and Augustin de Saint-Aubin were also accomplished artists. Gabriel received his earliest training at home before entering the studios of Étienne Je...