"VUE EXTERIEURE DE LA ROCHE APPELLÉE CHATEAU DISPICA"
Ispica, Sicily.
JEAN-PIERRE-LOUIS-LAURENT HOUËL
(Rouen 28 June 1735- Paris 14 November 1813)
Original aquatint on copperplate, printed in sanguine on strong French laid paper.
Aquatinte originale sur cuivre, imprimée à la sanguine sur papier vergé forte databledeuxièmemoitié 18èmesiècle.
Drawn andetched after nature by Jean-Pierre Houël, painter of the French King; of Beaux-Arts of Paris.
Dessiné et gravé daprès nature par Jean-Pierre Houël, peintre du Roi; de lacadémie des Beaux-Arts de Paris.
Plate n:205of the famous"Voyage Pittoresque des Iles de Sicile, de Malte et de Lipari"published in Paris in 1782.
Planche n:205 du célèbre "Voyage Pittoresque des Iles de Sicile, de Malte et de Lipari" imprimé à Paris en 1782.
Size/Format: 260mm by 375mm [copperplate/cuivre]
350mm by 540mm [sheet/feuille]
Superbimpression, strong sanguine ink, full editorial margins.
Très belle impression, encre sanguine très vive, toutes marges.
CONDITION:
In excellent condition. Superb quality of impression, full editorial margins.
En excellent état de conservation. Superbe impression, toutes marges.
JEAN HOUËL:
Jean-Pierre-Louis-Laurent Houël
(Rouen 28 June 1735-Paris 14 November 1813)
Was a French painter, engraver and draftsman.
During his long life Houël witnessed the reign ofLouis XV, theFrench Revolution, and the period ofNapoleonsFirstEmpire.
He was born at Roueninto a family of prosperous artisans, who sent him to the citys drawing academy when he was fifteen.
Here he was exposed to the art of early Dutch andFlemish painters, which was to have a defining impact on his chosen specialty of landscape painting.
In 1758 Houël published a book of landscapeengravings, and in 1768 he painted six views of theDuc deChoiseuls country estate, theChâteau deChanteloup.
The following year his influential patrons secured a place for him at theFrench academy in Rome.
Here, captivated with Italian customs, landscapes, and ancient sites, he traveled throughout southernItaly, makinggouache,drawings, which he presented at the Paris Salons of the early 1770s, exhibits that drew the attention of a wide public.
He spent the years 1776 to 1779 traveling inSicily,Lipari, andMalta, after which, based on his journey, he published a series of four volumes of lavishly illustratedtravel book(1782-1787).
Houëls main intention was to illustrate local topography, but his delicate applications ofwatercolouralso magnificently captured the effects of light and atmosphere.
To help finance these projects, he sold his preliminary drawings in Paris in 1780.
Louis XVIpurchased 46, andCatherineII of Russia, more than 500, of which 260 are preserved at theHermitageMuseumin St. Petersburg.
In his later years Houël published two illustrated treatises on elephants.
Drawings of other animals suggest he was preparing to publish further zoological works; however, his death at the age of seventy-eight cut short his plans.