This weeks chapter follows on from the previous in that it regards an image painted by #LouiseElizabethVigeeLeBrun.  The painting is entitled #L’InnonenceSeRefugiantDanLesBrasDeLaJustice or ‘Innocence Taking Refuge In The Arms Of Justice’.  It was painted in 1779.  It can be seen hanging in the Musee d’Anger.  But this post is not about the original (as wonderful as it is) but about the stipple engraving made from it by one of the great engravers.

L’Innocence se Refugiant dan les Bras de la Justice stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi after Louisa Elizabeth Le Brun 1783

#FrancescoBartolozzi (1727-1815) was born in Florence and started his artistic life as a painter but early on moved into engraving.  After studying engraving in Venice, Bartolozzi moved to London in 1764.  He lived in London for 40 years where he created enormous numbers of engravings.  Bartolozzi created many plates from the works of Cipriani and Angelica Kauffman.  He also produced several plates for Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery.  He was appointed ‘Engraver to the King’ with a fine salary.  In 1802, he took up a post at the National Academy of Lisbon and died in Lisbon in 1815.

Although slightly damaged by age, this engraving shows the exquisite technique which Bartolozzi possessed.  Unlike the copy which is held by the British Museum, there appears on my print a royal crest, a dedication to the Queen (Marie Antoinette) and it was published in Paris.  A piece superbly executed by an artist of superb talent.

I will apologize – my research was incomplete – the British Museum do hold a print like mine but not exactly.  They hold a print without the crest and artist information published by Bartolozzi – they also hold a print with the crest, dedication to the Queen, and artist information published in Paris ‘Se vend a Paris ches Le Rouge rue de Clery No. 58′.  My prints’ final line reads ‘a Paris ches DANLOS, quai Malaquai 1.  Apologies for the inaccuracy.