Jean Frédéric Schall, Madame de Lavallière, engraving, eighteenth century

This charming engraving entitled mademoiselle de la vallières sous une tente dans le bois de vincennes was made by louis charles ruotte, based on the work of jean frédéric schall. This engraving belongs to a series of 6 engravings dealing with the meeting between louise de la vallières and king louis XIV. Here is represented the meeting between king louis XIV and this young woman louise de la vallières. She is to the left of the composition, dressed in a white dress. In front of her, the seated monarch looks at her. A courtier offers a basket full of flowers to this young woman. The whole scene takes place in nature and is surrounded by many aristocrats. Louise de la vallières was a french aristocrat of the eighteenth century. She was the favorite of louis XIV from 1661 to 1667. The king dedicates to him one of the great festivals organized in versailles "the pleasures of the enchanted island". But it is finally abandoned by the king in favor of madame de montespan. Following this disgrace, she turned to religion and entered the carmelite convent of the faubourg saint jacques in paris. The composition is due to the french genre painter and portraitist, jean frederic schalke. This man of the eighteenth century was trained at the public school of strasbourg. He was then admitted to the school for protected pupils of the royal academy. His first works deal with gallant subjects that he realizes in the manner of great masters like fragonard. He was in contact with the high society of his time. He is a witness of the ancien régime, as for the sweetness of life, the mores. He made many portraits of actresses and dancers of the time. It was also chosen to illustrate literary works such as "the loves of psyche and cupid from the fountain". The engraving of the work is made by louis charles ruotte. This french engraver and illustrator was trained in engraving by noël le mire. He then went to london, where he trained in the technique of the po.

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