Alexandre Joseph Desenne, Les 1er amours d'Henri IV, engraving, XIXth century

This splendid engraving is part of a series of 4 engravings. These different engravings are entitled: "archery", "the rendezvous at the fountain", "infidelity" and finally "the death of fleurette" presented here. This work is linked to the legend of henri IV and his love story with fleurette. In this legend, henry IV courted the daughter of the gardener of the castle of nérac during the arrival of charles IX. But henry IV left fleurette on the order of his tax collector. Fleurette, overwhelmed with sadness, threw herself into the river and drowned. This set of engravings tells this story. Here, in the fourth board, fleurette's body lies lifeless near the fountain. A letter is on the ground, henry IV and other men approach the body of this lifeless woman. The drawings are by alexandre joseph desenne, a french history painter and draughtsman. He practiced his art from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. He learned drawing by copying the great masters. He is known thanks to the multitude of vignettes engraved after his drawings. The work is engraved by claude françois fortier. He is a painter, draughtsman, engraver, lithographer, illustrator and archaeologist. This frenchman participated in the illustrations of the collection of travel boards in lower and upper egypt. He also took part in the journey of exploration of brazil and the amazon rainforest. He is a member of the institut de france and the académie française. Another engraver participated in this work: bosselman, a 19th century draughtsman and painter. Many engravings of this artist are known. This series of engravings can be consulted on gallica, the website of the national library of france. Some freckles.

Ref. : K7DYG98F