French 18th Century

Anonymous French 18th Century

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A smooth-skinned man is shown from the shoulders up amid a swirl of curls and fabric in this freestanding bronze sculpture. In this photograph of the piece, his shoulders square to us as he looks off to our left, his chin slightly lifted. He has bushy brows, a prominent nose, smooth cheeks, a pointed chin, and his full lips are closed. A thin mustache brushes his upper lip, and a curl coils in a perfect spiral on his somewhat flattened forehead. Curls cascade from head to well beyond his shoulders to flank a wide, patterned collar. We catch glimpses of armor on his shoulders within a whirl of billowing fabric. Below, a rectangular pedestal with a tall, inward-curving cove over stepped molding is on a marble plinth. The sculpture is shown against a fog-gray background in this photograph.
French 18th Century, Louis XIV, c. 1780, before 1793, bronze, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1943.4.87

Louis XIV

French 18th Century · c. 1780, before 1793 · bronze ·  Accession ID  1943.4.87

The image shows a drawing of an elderly man seated from the waist up. He has deep-set eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a long nose. His face has wrinkles, and he wears a cap with some hair peeking out. He is dressed in a voluminous outer garment covering his shoulders and arms. The drawing is done in a simple line style with no visible jewelry or objects. The background is plain, and the image is bordered with a double line. There is text written beneath the illustration.
French 18th Century, Voltaire, 1790, stipple engraving printed in red, Rosenwald Collection, 1964.8.1096

Voltaire

French 18th Century · 1790 · stipple engraving printed in red ·  Accession ID  1964.8.1096

The image shows a portrait of a young person with light brown hair and delicate facial features. They wear a brown coat with a white ruffled collar. The background is a dark, muted color.
French 18th Century, Portrait of a Young Boy, c. 1790/1795, oil on wood, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.113

Portrait of a Young Boy

French 18th Century · c. 1790/1795 · oil on wood ·  Accession ID  1970.17.113

The image displays a circular design filled with intricate shapes and lines forming radial symmetry. At the center is a star-like pattern with multiple points radiating outward, surrounded by abstract motifs resembling ornate leaves and scrolls. Oval shapes, similar to the outline of leaves, are evenly distributed around the central star, each set within detailed ornamental designs. The composition is reminiscent of classic architectural elements and combines them into a unified circular form.
Italian 18th Century, French 18th Century, Design for an Inlaid Circular Table Top, with Alternatives, c. 1800, pen and gray ink with gray and black washes over graphite on laid paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1997.75.2

Design for an Inlaid Circular Table Top, with Alternatives

Italian 18th Century, French 18th Century · c. 1800 · pen and gray ink with gray and black washes over graphite on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1997.75.2

This drawing features a fan-shaped design with classical figures and floral motifs. It has a semi-circular composition inspired by historical or mythological themes. The segments contain detailed illustrations of figures in different poses wearing classical drapery. The outer and inner bands display intricate floral and geometric patterns framing the figures. The central portion of the fan is mostly empty, placing focus on the decorated borders. The drawing uses a monochromatic tone to highlight the fine line work and detailed decorations reminiscent of classical antiquity.
French 18th Century, A Fan with Classical Figures Processing to Apollo, c. 1795, etching, aquatint and roulette printed in brown on laid paper, Katharine Shepard Fund, 2015.101.1

A Fan with Classical Figures Processing to Apollo

French 18th Century · c. 1795 · etching, aquatint and roulette printed in brown on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2015.101.1

The image shows an ancient stone bridge crossing a river. Distant hills and sailing vessels are visible on the horizon. A tower-like structure is situated on the left of the bridge, adorned with greenery and fabric. People are crossing the bridge or tending to tasks. The architecture is detailed, with precise brushstrokes. The color palette consists of earthy tones for the bridge and soft blues for the sky and water.
French 18th Century, The Ponte Salario with Laundresses, c. 1780, gouache on laid paper mounted on cardboard, Phillips Family Fund, 2005.82.1

The Ponte Salario with Laundresses

French 18th Century · c. 1780 · gouache on laid paper mounted on cardboard ·  Accession ID  2005.82.1

The image shows an illustration encased in an ornate oval frame. The upper half of a woman's body is visible as she is seated and looking up at a cherub who is in flight. The woman has classical facial features and her hair is styled with curls. She is wearing a flowing, classical gown with short sleeves. Next to her is a table with a shallow dish or bowl on it. The cherub is holding a small basket and appears to be presenting something to the woman. Surrounding the main scene is an ornately decorated border featuring intricate floral designs with delicate leaves and blossoms in shades of blue and pink, culminating in a floral ribbon-like ornament at the top. The background is a neutral canvas.
Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty, Seated Woman Embroidering, early 1780s?, color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin, Widener Collection, 1942.9.1685

Seated Woman Embroidering

Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty · early 1780s? · color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin ·  Accession ID  1942.9.1685

This is a drawing of an oval framed scene surrounded by floral garlands. In the center of the composition, there is an oval frame depicting a classical scene with figures in what appears to be a mythological setting. The figures are engaged in an interaction, likely involving a seated figure, a standing one holding a wreath, and possibly a cherub in attendance. Surrounding the central medallion is an elaborate floral garland made up of pink roses with green leaves and blue ribbons curling through the arrangement. The drawing has a refined elegance typical of neoclassical design, with an emphasis on symmetry and balance typically associated with 18th-century European aesthetic.
Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty, Minerva Crowning the Genius of Fine Arts, early 1780s?, color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin, Widener Collection, 1942.9.1682

Minerva Crowning the Genius of Fine Arts

Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty · early 1780s? · color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin ·  Accession ID  1942.9.1682

Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty, Seated Woman Sketching a Design for Embroidery and Children Winding Yarn, early 1780s?, color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin, Widener Collection, 1942.9.1684

Seated Woman Sketching a Design for Embroidery and Children Winding Yarn

Various Artists, French 18th Century, Jean-Baptiste-André Gautier-Dagoty · early 1780s? · color etching, wash manner, and stipple engraving with gold leaf and hand coloring with silver paint (tarnished) on silk satin ·  Accession ID  1942.9.1684

The image contains two vases. The upper vase has an elongated oval shape and sits on a decorative base, while the lower vase is wider with a lid, also positioned on a similar base. The color palette consists of deep greens and muted golds and yellows with hints of blue in the shading. The top vase is centered in the upper portion of the image, labeled "VASE du No. 443," while the lower vase is labeled "VASE du No. 445." A thin line separates the two sections and an additional scale labeled "Echelle d'un pied" is shown below the lower vase.
French 18th Century, C.F. Julliot, Pierre Remy, Catalogue ... du Cabinet du feu M. Randon de Boisset, Receveur Géneral des Finances, 1777, bound volume with letterpress text and 10 vase drawings in pen and black ink and watercolor on laid paper, Gift of Regina Slatkin, 1983.40.1

Catalogue ... du Cabinet du feu M. Randon de Boisset, Receveur Géneral des Finances

French 18th Century, C.F. Julliot, Pierre Remy · 1777 · bound volume with letterpress text and 10 vase drawings in pen and black ink and watercolor on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1983.40.1