Visit of a Clergyman to Bastide, Sausion, and Collard

Art Historical Context

This lithograph, created around 1825 by Sébastien Coeuré in collaboration with publisher Aaron Martinet, captures a moment of social interaction titled “Visit of a Clergyman to Bastide, Sausion, and Collard.” Produced during the Bourbon Restoration in France, the print reflects the era’s interest in everyday scenes and subtle commentary on clerical and civic life. Lithography, a relatively new medium at the time, allowed artists to draw directly on stone for rich tonal effects and fine detail, making such works affordable and widely circulated among the growing middle class. Martinet’s firm was renowned for issuing popular prints that blended observation with gentle satire, and this sheet exemplifies how lithography helped democratize art beyond elite circles. Its generous format—roughly 11½ by 17 inches—suggests it was designed for display in homes or public spaces, inviting viewers to ponder the relationships between religious figures and local citizens. Today, the work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of prints and drawings, acquired through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund. It offers modern audiences a vivid window into early-nineteenth-century French society and the innovative printmaking techniques that shaped visual culture.

About the Artist

Sébastien Coeuré|Aaron Martinet (French|French) · 1778 |1785 –1881 |1836

French, active Paris, 1778–1831|French, 1785–1836