Qu'en dit l'Abbé?

1788

Nicolas Delaunay after Nicolas Lavreince

Associated Names
Nicolas Delaunay

Artist, French, 1739 - 1792

Nicolas Lavreince

Artist After, Swedish, 1737 - 1807

This is a painting of a sophisticated interior scene featuring a social gathering. The image depicts a richly decorated room with ornate architectural features like columns, arches, and intricate moldings on the ceiling. The interior is intricately detailed, capturing the grandeur and opulence of the setting. In the foreground and middle ground, figures in formal attire are engaged in various social interactions. The room is adorned with elegant drapery and furnishings, enhancing the luxurious atmosphere. The use of light and shadow creates depth and emphasizes the elaborate details of the scene.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and engraving

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 48.1 x 35.5 cm (18 15/16 x 14 in.)
    sheet: 49.2 x 36.9 cm (19 3/8 x 14 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1942.9.2400

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Portalis/Beraldi 1880, no. 26

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2001

  • The Unfinished Print, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2001, as Qu'en dit l'Abbé? (What Says the Abbé?).

Bibliography

1880

  • Portalis, baron Roger and Henri Beraldi. Les graveurs du dix-huitieme siecle. 2 parts, 3 vols. each part. Paris, 1880.

1987

  • Taylor, Sean J. "Pendants and Commercial Ploys: Formal and Informal Relationships in the Work of Nicolas Delaunay." Zeitschrift für Kunstgeschicte 50, no 4(1987): 509-538.

Wikidata ID

Q64960759

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