604 - R. VINKELES (1741-1816), Love and Madness, 1779, Etching

R. VINKELES (1741-1816), Love and Madness, 1779, Etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741 Amsterdam - 1816 ibid.): Love and Madness Allegorical scene ‘L’Amour et la Folie’ featuring Cupid on clouds, 1779, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: An absolutely superb, harmonious print, with clear lines and nuanced chiaroscuro tones. Inscription: lower left signed in the printing plate: "Vinkeles, del. et sculp.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "L'AMOUR ET LA FOLIE. Fable CCXXVII.". Date: 1779 Description: Within a rectangular picture frame, a female figure appears on billowing clouds, accompanied by a winged boy. The woman is wearing a long robe, a ruff and a pointed headdress; with her arm outstretched, she holds a staff with a small figure on it. The boy takes her hand and looks up at her. Behind them, masses of clouds pile up; to the left, the view opens out onto a building and flat terrain, whilst to the right, trees frame the scene. Delicate parallel and criss-crossing hatching renders the robes, clouds and vegetation. The composition combines allegorical figures with a distant landscape and a sense of layered depth. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621 -1695 ) Fables choisies, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Allegory; Female figure; Cupid; Putto; Clouds; Staff; Landscape; Building; Tree; Fable; Book illustration; Garment; Hatching; Sky; Frame; Title cartouche; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19,7 cm x 13,1 cm (7,8 x 5,2 in), Depiction: 13,0 cm x 8,3 cm (5,1 x 3,3 in) Condition: Rather good condition. The sheet is generally discoloured, showing clear signs of age, soiling along the edges and isolated stains; there is a vertical crease or pressure mark on the left, slight wear to the corners and edges, and general ageing of the paper.