Frontispiece, from Suite de Figures Chinoises. . . Tiré du Cabinet de Mr. d'Azaincourt (Series of Chinoiserie Figures. . .From the Chambers of Mr. d'Azaincourt)
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 8 1/4 × 5 13/16 in. (21 × 14.8 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.600.1017(1)
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the enchanting world of 18th Chinoiserie at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! ThisFrontispiece* from the *Suite de Figures Chino... Tiré du Cabinet de. d'Azaincourt* (Series of Chinoiserie... From the Chambers of Mr.'Azaincourt), between 1755 and1776, serves as the elegant introduction to a suite of decorative prints. Attributed to François Boucher, the famed Rococo master known for lavish, playful designs, alongside engravers Gilles Demarteau and Jean Pierre Louis Laurent Hoüel, it exemplifies the era's fascination with imagined Chinese motifs blended into European luxury. Printed in etching and engraving on a modest sheet of 8¼ × 5⅞ inches (21 × 14.8 cm), the work highlights the precision of these reproductive techniques, which allowed Boucher's intricate compositions—flowing robes, fantastical figures, and ornate patterns—to be widely disseminated. Chinoiserie, a hallmark of Rococo ornamentation, reflected Europe's exoticized view of Asia, adorning cabinets, wallpapers, and porcelain in aristocratic homes. Drawn from the collection of Mr. d'Azaincourt, this frontispiece captures the height of this cultural craze, bridging fine art and decorative architecture. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, it invites us to appreciate how prints democratized high-style fantasy, making opulent dreams accessible beyond palace walls. A delightful glimpse into Enlightenment-era escapism!
About the Artist
Gilles Demarteau|Jean Pierre Louis Laurent Hoüel|François Boucher · 1729–1776
Gilles Demarteau the Elder, born on January 19, 1722, in Liège, began his career steeped in the craft of metalwork. The son of a gunsmith, he learned engraving and goldsmithing from his father before moving to Paris around 1748–1750 to join his brother, who worked as a goldsmith for the engraver De Lacollombe, renowned for firearm ornament designs. Demarteau trained in De Lacollombe's workshop as ...