Artwork Page for The Lover Surprised (L'Amant Surpris)

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The Lover Surprised (L'Amant Surpris)

c. 1798

Charles-Melchior Descourtis

(French, 1753–1820)

after Frédéric Schall

(French, 1752–1825)
Culture
France, 18th century
Medium
Wash manner etching and engraving printed in blue, red, yellow, and black inks
Measurements
Sheet: 57 x 45 cm (22 7/16 x 17 11/16 in.); to borderline: 46.5 x 37.5 cm (18 5/16 x 14 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Print Club of Cleveland in honor of the museum's one-hundredth anniversary 2015.151
Catalogue raisonné
Portalis/Béraldi 3; Model/Springer p. 50, plate 20.
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

A young woman surprises her sweetheart, whom she has found reading love letters in a wooded park. The love-struck fellow carries a miniature portrait of her as a keepsake. Verdant foliage, a nearby brook, and a blooming rosebush signal fertility and the bounty of life. The nude female statue sitting on a pedestal seems to watch the playful lovers.
A vertically oriented wash manner etching and engraving depicts two people with light skin tones in a wooded scene. A woman in a white dress and straw hat stands behind a seated man, covering his eyes. He wears a red vest and dark coat. To our right, tall pink flowers and a stone statue appear while muted colors fill the background trees. Script at the bottom reads "L'Amant Surpris."

The Lover Surprised (L'Amant Surpris)

c. 1798

Charles-Melchior Descourtis, Frédéric Schall

(French, 1753–1820), (French, 1752–1825)
France, 18th century

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