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Le Billet Doux

Print
1778 (made)
Artist/Maker
Nicolas De Launay (printmaker)
Nicolas Lafrensen (artist)
Place of origin
Paris (made)

Ornate interior with a man and two women, one woman being handed a letter by the man. The women are seated, with one reading a sheet of music, the other with a small musical instrument in her lap; a harp, a cello and harpsichord stand to the right and some books, music and a box lie on the floor next to them. There is a mantle and large mirror. The walls are decorated with roundels, sculptures, garlands and corinthian pilasters. There is a curtain, candelabra, screen, and a carpet. There is a cat asleep next to the fireplace.

Below the image are a coat of Arms and two lions.


Object details

Categories
Prints
Interiors
Gender and Sexuality
Object type
Print
TitleLe Billet Doux (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching and engraving
Brief description
Engraving by Nicolas de Launay after Nicolas Lafrensen (or Lavreince), Le Billet Doux; French, Paris, 1778.
Physical description
Ornate interior with a man and two women, one woman being handed a letter by the man. The women are seated, with one reading a sheet of music, the other with a small musical instrument in her lap; a harp, a cello and harpsichord stand to the right and some books, music and a box lie on the floor next to them. There is a mantle and large mirror. The walls are decorated with roundels, sculptures, garlands and corinthian pilasters. There is a curtain, candelabra, screen, and a carpet. There is a cat asleep next to the fireplace.

Below the image are a coat of Arms and two lions.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 633mm
  • Sheet width: 445mm
  • Platemark height: 465mm
  • Platemark width: 350mm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Peint à la Gouasse par N. Lavereince, Peintre du Roy de Suede. (Lower left below image)
  • Gravé par N. de Launay, de l'Académie Royale de Peinture et Sculpture.
  • LE BILLET DOUX.
    Translation
    The love letter
    Transliteration
    Title lettered lower centre below image.
  • Dedié à Monsieur Menage de Pressigny, / Conseiller Fermier Général de Sa Majesté, / Tiré du Cabinet de M. Menage de Pressigny / Par son très humble et très / obéissant Serviteur, / N. De Launay. / A Paris, chez De Launay, Graveur du Roy, rue de / la Bucherie, la porte cochere près la rue des Rats. / A.P.D.R. (Below image margin, A.P.D.R. is cut off at base so that the top of the letters is only just visible)
Credit line
Bryan Bequest
Object history
From 'F.R. Bryan Esq.' (Acccessions Register)
FR Bryan bequest ca 1905 - Nominal file number MA/1/B3180
Bibliographic references
  • Lawrence, H. W. and Dighton, B. L. French Line Engravings of the late XVIII century. (1910), no. 95, ? before or after 5th state
  • The Age of Neo-Classicism (exh. cat.: The Royal Academy and The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 9 September – 19 November 1972), pp. 705-6.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.375-1905

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O860010/le-billet-doux-print-nicolas-de-launay/
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