Artwork
Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:center in plate: J.DE LAFONTAINE.; below image, center in plate: AS; by later hand, upper left verso in graphite: 24
About this work
Overview
Jean de La Fontaine is an engraving over etching on laid paper created by Augustin de Saint-Aubin in 1801, exemplifying late 18th-century French printmaking traditions in portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is Jean de La Fontaine, depicted in a contemplative pose with curly hair and a high collar, his face turned slightly sideways within an oval frame. The portrait conveys a sense of introspection.
Technique & Style
The work combines engraving over etching, characterized by fine lines that meticulously render clothing folds and hair texture, highlighting the precision of engraving techniques in capturing detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1801 by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, a member of a renowned French family of designers and engravers, with the subject's name, 'J. DELAFONTANE,' specified in a text box below the oval portrait frame.
Context
Reflects the artistic engagement of the Saint-Aubin family with the prevalent printmaking and portraiture practices of late 18th-century France.
Legacy
No specific legacy or impact of this individual work is documented in the provided information, focusing instead on its representative role in late 18th-century French printmaking traditions.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin de Saint-Aubin sometimes styled Auguste de Saint-Aubin (3 January 1736 – 9 November 1807), belongs to an important dynasty of French designers and engravers.
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