Nouvelle Suitte de cahiers de flerurs Naturelle no. 1
Print
c. 1790s (printed)
c. 1790s (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Who was Anne Allen? (1749/50 – after 1808)
Born in England, made prints in France
Printmaking activity: 1796 –1808
Very little is known about the life and output of Anne Allen. She was born in London but by 1789 was living in the Languedoc, France. It is possible that she was taught how to etch by her husband, the French painter and designer, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, who employed Allen and other women printmakers in his business. Around 1796 – 98, the couple produced nine sets of coloured etchings – examples of two of these sets are on display here. Pillement designed the prints, and Allen etched them. Allen hand coloured the prints with a delicate technique called à la poupée, using pieces of cotton fabric resembling ‘little dolls’ to ink the plates.
Born in England, made prints in France
Printmaking activity: 1796 –1808
Very little is known about the life and output of Anne Allen. She was born in London but by 1789 was living in the Languedoc, France. It is possible that she was taught how to etch by her husband, the French painter and designer, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, who employed Allen and other women printmakers in his business. Around 1796 – 98, the couple produced nine sets of coloured etchings – examples of two of these sets are on display here. Pillement designed the prints, and Allen etched them. Allen hand coloured the prints with a delicate technique called à la poupée, using pieces of cotton fabric resembling ‘little dolls’ to ink the plates.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Colour etching |
| Brief description | 'Nouvelle Suite de cahiers de fleurs Naturelle, no. 1', colour etching by Anne Allen after Jean Pillement, c. 1790s. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | on Title plate:
'Nouvelle Suitte [sic] de cahiers de flerurs [sic] naturelle a l'usagedes dessinateurs et des Peintres déssinés par Jean Pillement. Gravés par Anne allen No. 1'
Four remaining plates signed lower left: 'J. Pillement in.' and lower right 'Anne allen Sc.' |
| Gallery label | In 18th-century France, designs appropriated from East Asia – which to Europeans seemed a mysterious, faraway place – were in high demand, and the designer, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, was the foremost proponent of this style, known as ‘chinoiserie’. In this collaborative venture, Allen’s careful hand colouring technique and her spectacular multicolour palette complement Pillement’s recurring oriental motifs and ornaments.(2022) |
| Summary | Who was Anne Allen? (1749/50 – after 1808) Born in England, made prints in France Printmaking activity: 1796 –1808 Very little is known about the life and output of Anne Allen. She was born in London but by 1789 was living in the Languedoc, France. It is possible that she was taught how to etch by her husband, the French painter and designer, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, who employed Allen and other women printmakers in his business. Around 1796 – 98, the couple produced nine sets of coloured etchings – examples of two of these sets are on display here. Pillement designed the prints, and Allen etched them. Allen hand coloured the prints with a delicate technique called à la poupée, using pieces of cotton fabric resembling ‘little dolls’ to ink the plates. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.712-2018 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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