Particular and rare colour etching with a gilded wooden frame; the scene represents the arrival at the Fountain of Youth of a large group of people led by a friendly guide who invites them to plunge into the magical waters; the group is composed mainly of women, all old or fat, ugly or skeletal, who approach the fountain in the hope of changing their ugly features. In the foreground, the guide specifically addresses an old, sullen-looking noblewoman, while a dwarf dressed as a page holds the woman's cloak. The etching was executed between 1808 and 1810 by the famous engraver Jean Baptiste Morret, who was inspired in allegorical form by 'The Fountain of Youth', an oil painting on wood, measuring 122.5 × 186.5 cm, made in 1546 by the German painter Lucas Cranach the Elder, and kept in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. As stated in the caption, the etching is part of a collection of paintings and drawings in the Napoleonic Museum in Paris that praise the victories of Napoleon's French 'Grande Armèe', which defeated the armies of Austria and Prussia, united against France, at the Battle of Jena (14 October 1806), then the Battle of Eylau (7-8 February 1807) and finally the Battle of Friedland. The caption also states that 'Jouvance' is the name of a nymph who was transformed into a fountain by Jupiter and whose waters had the virtue of rejuvenating those who bathed in them. The caption also tells us that the etching was printed in Paris by Noel Freres Maestri di Stampa at "Rue Saint Jaques 16 a Pont des Arts and Rue des Pretes Saint Germain l'Auxreois n.22 a la Colonne de Rosback". Jean Baptiste Morret was a very skilled and talented engraver of the French school active in Paris between 1790 and 1820, he made many portraits of Napoleon and some of his works are exhibited in the British Museum. The print is in good condition, while the gilded wooden frame has some defects (see photo). The print measures 40cm wide, 30cm high. For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (wooden crates, polystyrene, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the items.
.png)
SILVER Seller in Prato, Italy
