Debucourt (1755-1832) after Vernet - 19th Century Mezzotint Chasseur Egare

Description

A French mezzotint coloured a la poupee by Philibert-Louis Debucourt (1755-1832) after Carle Vernet (1758-1836) depicting a huntsman lost in the woods. Presented glazed in a black lacquer and gilt-effect Hogarth-style frame. Inscribed with the title and names of both artists in plate. On wove.

Condition

There is foxing and discolouration. There are some chips and scuffs to the frame.

Size

37 x 44cm (14.6" x 17.3")

Artist Biography

Philibert-Louis Debucourt (1755-1832) was a French painter and engraver. He was born in Paris in 1755 and became a pupil of Vien. He executed a few plates in mezzotint, such as the 'Heureuse famille', the 'Benediction de la mariee', and the 'Cruche cassee', after his own designs. Most of his work was, however, in aquatint. He became the leading maker of multi-plate colour prints, combining washes of aquatint with line-engraving. He used a number of different techniques, but most involved three colour plates, and a fourth key plate, outlining the design in black. Debucourt's father-in-law was the sculptor Louis-Philippe Mouchy. In the marriage contract Mouchy generously offered to provide a three-room apartment at the Louvre, where Debucourt lived for twelve and a half years. The address of this apartment is often given on his prints. Some of his work was satirical, such as 'La promenade publique', an aquatint of 1792 showing a crowd in the gardens the Palais-Royal. As well as working from his own designs, he made aquatints after Carle Vernet, including the 'Horse Frightened by a Lion', the 'Horse Frightened by Lightning' and the 'Strayed Huntsman'. Debucourt was assisted for some years by his pupil and nephew, Jean-Pierre-Marie Jazet. He died at Belleville in 1832.