Le Repos Engraving by Gaucher after Netscher – Reclining Female Nude 1791

Description

Le Repos engraving by Charles-Étienne Gaucher after Gaspard Netscher, with Beaudoin credited as the intermediary draughtsman. This monochrome print depicts a reclining female nude beneath a draped canopy. French lettering, an armorial cartouche and an ornamental border complete the composition.

The sheet measures 43.5 × 29 cm. The engraved composition, including the title and explanatory text, measures 36.7 × 23.7 cm, while the pictorial image alone measures 20.3 × 16.7 cm.

The reclining figure and interior

The woman rests with her back towards the viewer, her head supported by her arms. Her figure extends across the lower part of the scene, framed by light bedding and the darker curtains behind her.

Broad folds of fabric hang above the bed. Fringed edges and patterned textiles create a richly furnished setting, while the vertical supports of the canopy give structure to the composition.

At the right, an ornate ewer stands on a tray placed on an upholstered stool. A small slipper lies below the bed. These carefully rendered accessories contribute to the intimate character of the scene.

The engraving uses fine lines and contrasting areas of light and shade to distinguish the figure, the folds of the bedding and the heavy curtains. The treatment of textiles is a particularly noticeable feature of the image.

Le Repos engraving: title and French commentary

The title appears beneath the scene, accompanied by an armorial cartouche and an inscription referring to the gallery of the Duke of Orléans.

Further lettering identifies the work with the Dutch school. Below it, a French commentary discusses the painting and its execution. This text is part of the printed composition and gives the sheet a documentary interest alongside its decorative qualities.

An ornamental rectangular border surrounds the image and the accompanying text. The sheet retains margins outside this border.

Gaucher after Netscher

The printed credits identify three contributors: Gaspard Netscher as the painter of the model, Beaudoin as the draughtsman and Charles-Étienne Gaucher as the engraver.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France catalogues the plate within Couché’s Galerie du Palais-Royal and records its publication in Paris in 1791. This is the documented publication date of the plate; the printing date of the present impression has not been independently established.

Dimensions

• Full sheet: 43.5 × 29 cm.
• Engraved composition, including title and explanatory text: 36.7 × 23.7 cm.
• Pictorial image only, excluding title and text: 20.3 × 16.7 cm.

These measurements describe the offered sheet. The historical measurements printed within the French inscription refer to the original painting.

Condition

Small old pinch creases are present in the paper around the title. Minor scattered marks and slight paper irregularities are also visible in the photograph.

Please examine the photograph carefully for the condition of the sheet and the appearance of the title area.

With its reclining figure, detailed drapery and accompanying French commentary, this Le Repos engraving brings together figurative art and the printed documentation of a painting associated with the Duke of Orléans’s gallery.