Licurgus verwond door Alcander bij oproer

About this artwork

prenttekening, ets in crayonmanier in bruinrood

Art Historical Context

This striking etching by Gilles Demarteau a dramatic moment from ancient Spartan history: the lawgiver Lycurgus wounded by the nobleman Alcander during a political uprising. Created between 1760 and 1776, the print exemplifies the refined reproductive techniques popular in 18th-century France, where engravers translated paintings and drawings into accessible printed form for wider audiences. Demarteau was renowned for perfecting the crayon manner, an etching process that imitates the soft, textured lines of chalk or pastel drawings. Here, the technique is rendered in warm brownish-red ink, giving the scene a lively, almost painterly quality despite its print medium. The horizontal format (roughly 31 by 41 centimeters) allows the turbulent composition to unfold with energy and clarity. As both a technical achievement and a classical narrative, the work reflects Enlightenment-era fascination with ancient virtue and civic conflict. Visitors can appreciate how Demarteau’s sensitive linework transforms a moment of violence into an elegant study of movement and emotion, inviting reflection on leadership and the costs of reform.

About the Artist

Gilles Demarteau · 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 ...