Célestin Nanteuil, French Cooks – Original 1838 lithograph print
Célestin Nanteuil, French Cooks – Original 1838 lithograph print
Célestin Nanteuil, French Cooks – Original 1838 lithograph print

Célestin Nanteuil French Cooks

£78.00
£78.00
Sold
View the full Collection: French Hand-coloured Lithographs of the Mid-19th-century

An original 1838 lithograph print, Célestin Nanteuil, French Cooks.

A fine French lithograph, showing an animated kitchen scene, by painter, engraver and illustrator Célestin Nanteuil (1813–1873). Nanteuil was closely tied to the Romantic movement in France. He was born in Rome of French parents who were part of Joseph Bonaparte's entourage. He entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1827, where he studied under Eustache-Hyacinthe Langlois, and then worked in the studio of Dominique Ingres. In 1848, he was made Director of Académie des beaux-arts and later became the curator of the Musée des beaux-arts in Dijon. Nanteuil illustrated novels by Victor Hugo, Dumas and Théophile Gautier. His elder brother, Charles-François, was a noted sculptor who won the Prix de Rome in 1817.

Célestin Nanteuil's prints can be found in the collections of the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

Trimmed to the image as shown.

+ Read the S&W Collection Research

French Hand-coloured Lithographs of the Mid-19th-century

This print forms part of a beautiful collection of mid-19th century hand-coloured lithographs that we have for sale. The lithographs are principally French in origin and include a number of works by important French lithographers of the day, such as Célestin Nanteuil (1813–1873), Théodore Valério (1819–1879) and Alfred André Géniole (1813–1861).

The invention of lithography by Bavarian chemist Alois Senefelder in 1796 revolutionised printing, allowing prints to be made faster, cheaper and more plentiful than ever before. The technique became successfully established in Paris by 1816, one year after the fall of Napoleon. In 1839 printer Pierre Benoiste declared that 'Lithography is painting for the people. Oil paintings … are for the rich; engraving is for the bourgeoisie'. It was used to print all manner of paper material, including sheet music, newspaper illustrations, posters, maps, timetables, menus and more. Although not intended as an artist’s medium, fine artists were also quick to explore the potential of the new medium.

This collection of prints features extensive hand-colouring, bringing the monochrome lithography to life with real vividness; gum arabic and coating varnish often further heighten the colour. The art of hand-colouring prints is a little-studied but distinct discipline, requiring skill and flair to be done successfully.

COA
+ Artwork Details

Dimensions: Height: 12.6cm (4.96") Width: 16cm (6.3")

Presented: Unframed.

Medium: Lithograph

Age: Early 19th-century

Signed: Signed in the plate lower right.

Inscribed: Inscribed verso and on a separate accompanying fragment of paper.

Dated: Dated in the plate lower right.

Condition: In good condition for its age. The picture may have minor imperfections such as slight marks, toning, foxing, creasing or pinholes, commensurate with age. Please see photos for detail.

Stock number: JU-440