Artwork
Marie-Rosalie Vanloo
Marie-Rosalie Vanloo is a chalk print by the Romanticist artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: Dessiné par Carle Vanloo / A Paris, chez la Ve. de F. Chereau / rue S. Jacques aux 2 Piliers d'Or.; lower center in plate: DEDIÉE A MONSIEUR CARLE VANLOO; lower right in plate: Carle Vanloo / Gravé par Louis Bonnet / Par son tres-humble, et tres- / obeissant, serviteur, Louis Bonnet.; lower center in graphite: [illegible]
About this work
Overview
Louis-Marin Bonnet’s chalk‑manner print, dated around 1764, depicts a close‑up portrait of a woman identified as Marie‑Rosalie Vanloo. Rendered in delicate black and white lines on a pale blue sheet, the image captures the sitter’s head and shoulders, emphasizing the elegance of her coiffure and the intricate lace of her neckline.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Vanloo with her hair arranged in loose, upward‑swept curls, a fashionable style of the mid‑eighteenth century that signified refinement. The prominence of the lace collar underscores her social standing, as such detailed textile rendering was traditionally used to convey wealth and cultivated taste in portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed in the chalk‑manner, the print imitates the soft tonal qualities of chalk drawings through fine hatching and cross‑hatching. Subtle gradations of shading create a sense of volume, particularly on the face, while the light blue paper provides a muted backdrop that enhances the contrast of the black lines without overwhelming the composition.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1764, the work is attributed to French printmaker Louis‑Marin Bonnet, known for his portrait prints in the Rococo period. The sitter, Marie‑Rosalie Vanloo, appears in other contemporary documents as a member of the Parisian bourgeoisie, suggesting the print may have served as a personal or family keepsake.
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