Le Triste Souvenir (The Sad Memory)

c. 1766

François-Philippe Charpentier, after François Boucher, published by Pierre-François Basan

Associated Names
François-Philippe Charpentier

Artist, French, 1734 - 1817

Pierre-François Basan

Publisher, French, 1723 - 1797

François Boucher

Artist After, French, 1703 - 1770

The image shows a group of people standing together. In the center is a woman with her head tilted, hands clasped in front of her, and a solemn expression. She wears a long robe with a headscarf. Beside her is a child looking up at her with a hand on her arm. Behind them, another woman holds a cloth to her face. On the other side, a figure leans over an object resembling a crib. The background features abstract flowing lines and shaded areas, giving a natural setting impression. The image has a sepia tone.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching and aquatint printed in brown on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 22.8 × 17 cm (9 × 6 11/16 in.)
    plate: 28.3 × 20.7 cm (11 1/8 × 8 1/8 in.)
    sheet: 32.2 × 24 cm (12 11/16 × 9 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2018.91.22

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    IFF (1700): no. 39

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(James A. Bergquist, Newton Centre, MA); purchased 2018 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1835

  • Nagler, G.K. Neues allgemeines Kunstler-Lexikon, oder Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken der Maler, Bildhauer, Baumeister, Kupferstecher, Formschneider, Lithographen, Zeichner, Medailleure, Elfenbeinarbeiter, etc.. 22 vols. Munich: E.A. Fleischmann, undesc.

1854

  • Le Blanc, Charles. _Manuel de l'amateur d'estampes, contenant le dictionnaire des graveurs de toutes les nations, dans lequel sont decrites les estampes rares, precieuses et interessantes avec l'indication de leurs differents etats et des prix auxquels: no. 46.

1930

  • IFF (1700): no. 39

1978

  • Jean-Richard, Pierrette. L'Oeuvre grave de Francois Boucher, dans la Collection Edmond de Rothschild. Paris, 1978: no. 467, ii/ii

Inscriptions

in image, at lower left: F. Boucher inv.; in plate, in image, at lower right: FPC Sculp; in plate, below image, at center: LE TRISTE SOUVENIR / à Paris chez Basan

Watermarks

Maltese cross encircled by a chain (partial)

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