An Artist at the French Academy in Rome (?) with Box of Snuff, pl. VII from "Recueil de caricatures"

Art Historical Context

In the mid-18th century, French Academy in Rome stood as a pinnacle of artistic training, where promising French talents immersed themselves in classical antiquity during the Grand Tour era. This etching, titled *An Artist at the French Academy in (?) with Box of Sn* (plate VII from *Recueil de caricatures ca. 1754), by Ange-Laurent de La Live Jully—a noted collector and patron—and sculptor Jacques François Joseph Saly playfully captures that world. The satirical portrait exaggerates an artist's features while highlighting his snuff box, a ubiquitous luxury item among Europe's cultured elite, symbolizing refined (or affected) tastes. As a caricature in etching—a precise intaglio technique favored for its sharp lines and tonal depth—this print exemplifies Rococo-era humor. Caricatures like this one lampooned the pretensions of the art world, poking fun at scholars and creators amid Rome's ancient grandeur. Produced as part of an album (*Recueil de caricatures*), it reflects the era's vibrant print culture, blending wit with social commentary. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 11⅛ × 7⅞-inch sheet invites visitors to chuckle at 18th-century vanities, reminding us how satire has long humanized high art.

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