Jean Baptiste Huet’s etching, “Jeune Bergère et ses Enfants”, 1795

Jean Baptiste Huet (1745–1811)

“Jeune Bergère et ses Enfants” (Young Shepherdess and her children), 1795, after a drawing by the artist from the series of 38 plates “Cahiers d'études” (aka “Oeuvres de J. B. Huet”), proof before lettering for publication (viz. “A Paris chez Huet Fils Rue ci dev. des Fossés Mr le Prince N.88.”) in Paris by the artist’s son, Jean Baptiste Huet the younger (1772–1852).

Note: my attribution of the date of execution of this etching as 1795 is based on the inscription on the plate below the artist’s signature: “l'an 5” (year 5). The British Museum attributes the date of this print to between 1796 and 1797, but I suspect that this attribution may be the date of the print’s publication rather than the date of its execution.

Etching on laid paper trimmed unevenly with a small margin around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet trimmed unevenly) 21 x 33 cm; (image borderline) 18.4 x 30.1 cm.

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline at upper right: ”J. B. Huet / l'an 5”.

Proof state (lifetime impression) before lettering with publication details.

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (after lettering for publication):

“Plate 7, bottom: seated peasant woman looking at the child sitting at her feet and stroking a sheep; in the background, on the left two children playing with a goat; cut out from a larger plate. 1796/97 Etching”

(https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1522966&partId=1&searchText=Jean-Baptiste+HUET+&page=1)

Note that I have previously posted a pair of etchings by this artist that are (surprisingly) still available:

https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2018/07/a-pair-of-jean-baptiste-huets-etchings.html

Condition: richly inked and near faultless impression, trimmed with uneven margins around the image borderline and laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. There is a pale dot stain towards the lower left corner otherwise the sheet is in an excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains or foxing).

I am selling this luminous etching from the late 1700s—note how the artist has spotlit the resting shepherdess and silhouetted her children playing with a goat in the darkness—for AU$260 (currently US$178.72/EUR160.11/GBP140.50 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this strong proof-state etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold (along with the two earlier prints by Huet mentioned in the discussion)