The Chapel of the Enfants-Trouvés in Paris: L'Adoration des bergers

Art Historical Context

In the heart of 18th-century Paris, the Chapel of the En-Trouvés—a hospice dedicated to caring for abandoned—Charles Joseph Natoire's painting *L'Adoration des berg* captured a tender moment from the Nativity story. Created around 1752 and masterfully translated into print by engraver Etienne Fessard this etching and engraving depicts shepherds adoring the Christ child, surrounded by women, children, dogs, and donkeys. scene's Rococo elegance, characteristic of Natoire's fluid and graceful figures, evokes warmth and humility, resonating deeply with the chapel's mission to shelter society's most vulnerable. As a reproductive print, this work (measuring 21 × 10 11/16 inches when trimmed) democratized access to Natoire's artistry, allowing the image to circulate beyond the chapel walls. Etching and engraving techniques—etching for painterly effects and engraving for precise detail—highlighted the emotional interplay of light and shadow, bringing the holy family's intimacy to life. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, it exemplifies how 18th-century French printmaking bridged religious devotion and public devotion, blending spiritual narrative with the era's ornate aesthetic. A poignant reminder of compassion in a bustling metropolis.