Artwork
Le desir de plaire
Le desir de plaire is an ink print by the Baroque artist Louis de Surugue de Surgis. It dates from 1743 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1743, Le désir de plaire is a black‑and‑white print produced by the French engraver Louis de Surugue de Surgis. Executed as a combined etching and engraving, the work depicts an intimate interior scene populated by a mixture of elegantly dressed adults, children, and cherubic figures, all gathered around a table under a modestly illuminated setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman in a flowing gown offering an object to a gentleman in elaborate attire, while surrounding youths and winged cherubs engage in music‑making and attentive listening. The title, translating to “the desire to please,” suggests a thematic focus on social courtesy, artistic performance, and the pleasure derived from communal interaction.
Technique & Style
Surugue de Surgis employed fine line work characteristic of 18th‑century French printmaking, blending delicate etching washes with the sharper incisions of engraving. This hybrid approach allows for subtle tonal variation in the background shelves, books, and lamp, while rendering the figures with crisp outlines that emphasize movement and expression.
History & Provenance
The print was issued in the mid‑century, a period when decorative genre scenes were popular among collectors of French prints. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has appeared in several catalogues of 18th‑century French engraving, confirming its attribution to Surugue de Surgis and its circulation among connoisseurs of the era.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
