Head of a Faun

Gilles Demarteau, the Elder after François Boucher

Associated Names
Gilles Demarteau the Elder

Artist, French, 1722 - 1776

François Boucher

Artist After, French, 1703 - 1770

The image is a portrait capturing the side profile of a figure's head and a partial view of the upper shoulder. The figure faces to the left and appears to be slightly leaning forward. The figure has a prominent, elongated nose, a full beard, wild, naturally styled hair with a wreath made of leaves and grapes, and small, curved horns on the forehead. The clothing is nondescript, suggesting a single garment draped over the shoulder. The background is crosshatched, creating a textured effect. There are no additional objects in the background, maintaining focus on the figure's profile.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    chalk manner printed in black on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ellwanger/Mescha Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 28.9 x 22.2 cm (11 3/8 x 8 3/4 in.)
    sheet: 40 x 28.8 cm (15 3/4 x 11 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2006.163.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Leymarie 1896, no. 4

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mr. Gregory Mescha and Mr. Thompson Ellwanger, Washington, DC; gift to NGA, 2006.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1896

  • Leymarie, L. de. L'Oeuvre de Gilles Demarteau l'aine graveur du roi, catalogue descriptif. Paris: Georges Rapilly, 1896: no. 4.

1978

  • Jean-Richard, Pierrette. L'oeuvre grave de François Boucher, dans la Collection Edmond de Rothschild. Paris, 1978.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: Boucher del.; lower center in plate: Paris rue de la Pelterie a la cloche; lower right in plate: Demarteau oc CPR; by later hand, lower left in graphite: Gravé par Demarteau

Wikidata ID

Q76341196

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