Who painted Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption)?

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) was painted by Léonard Gaultier in 1603.

Where can I see Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption)?

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption)?

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption)?

Museum-quality prints of Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption)

Léonard Gaultier , 1603

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper center in plate: Les Feste du Mois d'Aoust.; center in plate: S. Barthelemi le 24./S. Roch le 16./S. Laurens le 10./L'Assumption nre Dame le 15.; lower left in plate: L. Gaultier/sculpcit; lower center in plate: Sainct Laurens en ce mois vent avoir sa journée,.../...De Sainct Barthelemy sans variation.; lower right in plate: J. le Clerc/excudit.

About this work

You see a busy 1603 engraving of a crowded August feast.

The artist packed the scene with small figures eating, drinking, and dancing. Tiny details matter here, look for the dog under the table or the man fanning himself with a hat.

It’s an engraving, so check how the artist used fine lines to create shade and depth, this method is called cross-hatching.

Gaultier, Léonard

Overview

Les Festes du mois d'Aoust (August: The Assumption) is a 1603 engraving on laid paper, created by Léonard Gaultier and published by Jean Leclerc. The work measures 19 × 13 cm (plate) and 28.8 × 20.5 cm (sheet). It depicts a lively August feast scene.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving captures the vibrancy of a summer feast, teeming with small figures engaged in revelry, eating, drinking, and dancing. Minute details, such as a dog under a table and a man using his hat as a fan, add depth to the communal celebration, likely referencing the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Technique & Style

Gaultier employed cross-hatching, a technique utilizing fine, intersecting lines, to achieve shading and depth in the engraving. This method allowed for intricate textures and tonal variations, enhancing the overall visual richness of the crowded scene.

History & Provenance

Published in 1603 by Jean Leclerc, the engraving's provenance is not extensively detailed here, though its creation and publication context suggest it was part of the early 17th-century print market in Europe.

Context

Created during the early 17th century, Les Festes du mois d'Aoust reflects the artistic and cultural practices of its time, including the popularity of engraving as a medium for disseminating images of everyday and religious life.

Legacy

While specific lasting impacts or notable inclusions in later artistic movements are not highlighted in the provided information, the engraving remains a testament to Gaultier's skill in capturing dynamic scenes through detailed engravings.