The Brawl

Currently not on view

The Brawl

c. 1794-1795

Charles-Melchior Descourtis (French, 1753-1820) After a painting by Nicolas-Antoine Taunay (French, 1755–1830)

Charles-Melchior Descourtis's masterful color print reproduces one of four paintings, now lost, by Nicolas-Antoine Taunay. The harmonious coloring and lyrical mood of three of the four prints evoke Jean-Antoine Watteau's fêtes galantes and the carefree spirit of pre-Revolutionary France--but the violent subject matter of the final print in the series, The Brawl, sets it apart from the others. Taunay had finished his paintings of The Village Wedding, The Village Fair, and The Drummer before leaving on a three-year visit to Italy in 1784. The Brawl, painted after his return to Paris in 1787, reflects the recent trend for French artists to tackle more serious themes.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

The Brawl
La Rixe

Date:

c. 1794-1795

Artists:

Charles-Melchior Descourtis (French, 1753-1820) After a painting by Nicolas-Antoine Taunay (French, 1755–1830)

Medium:

Wash-manner color engraving

Dimensions:

Image: 12 1/16 × 9 1/8 inches (30.6 × 23.2 cm) Plate: 15 3/16 × 11 7/16 inches (38.5 × 29 cm) Sheet: 15 1/2 × 11 9/16 inches (39.3 × 29.4 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

Gift (by exchange) of Carl and Laura Zigrosser, 1996

Accession Number:

1996-68-3

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

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Currently not on view