Silkie Cockerel and Silkie Hen, from "Le Magasin Pittoresque"

Art Historical Context

Step into the enchanting world of 19th French illustration with *Silkie Cockerel Silkie Hen*, a delicate wood engraving from the September 1861 issue of *Le Magasin Pitque*. Created by Charles Jacque, prominent artist of the Barbizon School known for his lively depictions of rural animals, and possibly after a design by Charles Tamisier, this print captures the fluffy plumage and serene expressions of Silkie chickens—a exotic breed prized for their unique, silk-like feathers originating from Asia. Wood engraving, the medium here, was a pinnacle of 19th-century printmaking technique, allowing intricate details through end-grain wood blocks carved by skilled engravers. Measuring just 4½ × 5¼ inches, this petite image exemplifies how such affordable reproductions brought high art to the masses via popular periodicals like *Le Magasin Pittoresque*, which educated and entertained French readers with vignettes on nature, science, and culture from 1833 to 1873. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund of 1933, this work highlights the era's fascination with ornamental poultry breeding amid agricultural advancements. It's a charming window into Victorian-era curiosity, blending scientific observation with artistic whimsy.

About the Artist

Charles Tamisier|Charles Jacque (French|French) · 1800 |1813 –1900 |1894

French, active 1841–61|French, Paris 1813–1894 Paris