Artwork
The Stubborn Donkey
The Stubborn Donkey is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate: Fragonard del.; lower right in plate: Saint Non Sc. 1770.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1770 by the French printmaker Jean‑Claude‑Richard, Abbé de Saint‑Non, “The Stubborn Donkey” is an etching combined with aquatint on laid paper, printed in a uniform brown tone. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and exemplifies late‑eighteenth‑century French printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a cramped interior where a woman, seated on the left, cradles a child while extending her right hand. To her right, a man leans forward, clutching a bundle of objects. The space is littered with a ladder, a dog, and a bird in mid‑flight, suggesting a moment of domestic disorder and hurried activity.
Technique & Style
Saint‑Non employed a combination of line etching and aquatint to achieve a range of tonal values, allowing the brown ink to render both delicate outlines and broader washes of shadow. The laid‑paper texture contributes subtle variation to the background, while the contrast between darker figures and lighter areas creates a sense of depth and movement within the confined setting.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in Paris during the artist’s mature period and later entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in representing the breadth of French print culture from the pre‑revolutionary era.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non
Saint-Non, Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de (1727–1791) was an artist.
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