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A Gypsy Telling Fortunes

Benoît Audran

1750

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

18th Century

Dominant colour

A Gypsy Telling Fortunes is a 1750 by Benoît Audran, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Benoît Audran
When & what style?: 1750
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

The image depicts a print titled "A Gypsy Telling Fortunes" by Benoît Audran. The scene shows a gypsy woman, dressed in a headscarf and a dark shawl, holding the hand of a young man who is wearing a feathered hat and a dark jacket. The background is a plain, muted color. The gypsy's face is turned towards the young man, and her eyes seem to be fixed intently on his hand. The young man's expression is one of curiosity, and his eyes are cast downward at his hand. The overall atmosphere of the image is one of quiet contemplation. The use of chiaroscuro in this print creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figures. To learn more about the technique of chiaroscuro, explore its use in the works of artists such as Caravaggio.

The story of this work

Overview

The print depicts a scene of fortune-telling performed by a Gypsy woman, based on a work by Caravaggio, and is inscribed with the French title "Bohëmiene disant la bonne avanture." Executed in print on paper, the image captures the act of divination in a manner derived from the earlier painting.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Benoît Audran

Benoît Audran spent his life carving other artists’ designs into copper plates, turning their dramatic moments into prints that traveled farther than oil paintings ever could.

See the richer artist page