Antique Master Print-RETOUR DU BAL-RETURN FROM MASKED BALL-Beauvarlet-Troy-1758

‘Retour du bal, Tire du Cabinet de monsieur Prousteau […] la rue des Mathurins.’

Etching / engraving on a thick hand laid (verge) paper with watermark.

Sheet size: 35,2 x 48 cm. (13,9 x 18,9 inch). Image size: 35 x 47,8 cm. (13,8 x 18,8 inch).

This attractive print was made after a lost painting by Jean Francois de Troy. Advertised in ‘Mercure’, July 1758 and pair to a pendant called “Before the Ball”, De Troy exhibited this painting under the title Le retour du bal at the Salon in 1737, along with its companion piece La toilette. Both were in the Cabinet Prousteau at the time of the sale of June 5, 1769. The execution of the print was announced in July 1758 in the Mercure de France (t. 1, p. 166) and originally published by Beauvarlet. This print was printed in Paris : Chez Marcel rue St. Julien no.12 pres la rue St. Jacque, [ca. 1758], Ref: The British Museum.

Made by ‘Jacques Firmin Beauvarlet’ after ‘Jean Francois de Troy’. Jacques Firmin Beauvarlet (1731-1797), was a French printmaker, publisher/printer and leader of the so-called ‘Abbeville’ school of engravers. He moved to Paris in 1750. In 1762, he was appointed Graveur du Roi and was approved by the Acade?mie Royale. Jean Francois de Troy (1679-1752), was a French painter/draughtsman, specialised in domestic scenes and Fetes Galantes, son of Francois. Director of the French Academy in Rome 1738-52.

Condition: Fair, given age. Trimmed near the image. There is a tear at the top towards the right which is clearly visible. At the bottom there is a small tear as well towards the left. As I mentioned the other damage appears to have resulted from frevious framing. Probably the glass broke and left some scars. There is asmall hole at top right and paper damage. To the left of it a sort of line is running cris cross towards the lady on the right. Some more damage at the gentleman on the right above the mask. Then there is some damage to ethe paper in the very middle at the dress, and at the left candle above the fireplace. And a few small spots at top left. Overall the print still makes a nice impression. Some of the damage could possibly be retouched. The surface of the rear has some of the top layer removed from attachment to a carrier, but the paper is still thick. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: RETURM FROM BALL – CLOAK – GOWN – CANDLESTICK – CANDLES – FIREPLACE

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