An Artist at the French Academy in Rome (?), pl. II from "Recueil de caricatures"

Art Historical Context

Step into the playful world of 18th caricature with *An Artist at the French in Rome (?) (pl. II from "Recueil de caric")*, an etching created around 1754 by Ange-Laurent de La Live Jully, a prominent French collector and patron, in collaboration with sculptor Jacques François Joseph Saly. This satirical print humorously depicts a male artist, likely poking fun at the pretensions or quirks of life at the prestigious French Academy in Rome—a hub for young French talents honing classical skills amid Italy's ancient ruins. Etching, the medium here, allowed for intricate lines and expressive distortions typical of caricature, where exaggerated features amplified human folly for comic effect. Produced during the Rococo era's twilight, as tastes shifted toward Neoclassicism, this work from de La Live's *Recueil de caricatures* album reflects the era's love for witty social commentary among elites. The French Academy, founded in 1666, symbolized national artistic pride, training Prix de Rome winners like Saly himself. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 11 x 8-inch sheet captures a lighthearted glimpse into artistic rivalries and daily absurdities, reminding us that even geniuses were fair game for laughter in Enlightenment France.

About the Artist

Ange-Laurent de La Live de Jully|Jacques François Joseph Saly (French| | ) · 1715 |1725 |1725 –1790 |1779 |1779

French, Paris 1715–1790 Paris|1725–1779|1725–1779