Not an original painting from me this week, but a very special, extremely rare engraving from the turn of the last century.
The original painting, “The Guard Room”, is held in The Wallace Collection in London and was painted in about 1847 by renowned French artist Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier. Jules Jacquet was a French engraver who made engravings of many of Meissonier’s best works.
Jules Jacquet was born in Paris in 1841. He was a keen artist from a very early age and was encouraged along with his brother, Achille, to practice their art at every opportunity. His parents sent him off to study under Henriquel-Dupont, a fine artist and engraver himself who was recognised in France as one of the best tutors of engraving.
Both Jules and Achille became renowned engravers with Jules surpassing his brothers’ skills.
At the age of only 25, in 1866, Jules won the Prix de Rome, which brought him enough notoriety to be able to concentrate on his art for the rest of his life. He formed a liking for Meissonier’s work most of which depicted the wars and battles of Napoleon his armies and his soldiers keeping themselves amused in between battles.
Some of Meissonier’s best works were towards the end of his life and were quite epic in their proportions and detail.
“The Guard Room” is a delightful painting full of character and lots of colour, really capturing the brightness of the soldiers clothing. Likewise, Jacquet’s engraving is perfect in every detail and really encapsulates the mischievous nature of the guards during their games.
This beautiful engraving is enhanced by the handwritten signature of Jules Jacquet in pencil to the bottom margin which also has his distinctive remarque stamp.
Across the top margin of the engraving is the copyright detail which states in italics “Copyright 1903 by Messrs Arthur Tooth and Sons, Publishers, 5 & 6, Haymarket, London. 41, Boulevard Des Capucines, Paris. 299, Fifth Avenue, New York & Messers Stiefbold & Co, Berlin. Printed by A Porcabeuf (Imprimerie A Salmon) Paris.
This engraving is currently available for sale in my showroom or in my online shop and is a real bargain at only £120. Alternatively, as advertised in this paper, we now offer a leasing arrangement, so this along with all of our paintings, can be rented for a small fixed monthly rental fee.
This great work, along with many others, is available to view, purchase or rent at AntiqArt, the “preloved art” gallery at Holme Grange Craft Village or online at www.antiqart.co.uk or call us on 0118 327 5421.
