Landscape with Narcissus - François Vivares

A detailed 1743 etching by François Vivares after Claude Lorrain, depicting the mythological scene of Narcissus by a pool within a classical landscape.

This fine art print is an etching and engraving by François Vivares, published in 1743. It reproduces a painting by Claude Lorrain, titled 'Landscape with Narcissus'. The work depicts the mythological figure Narcissus reclining by a pool, captivated by his own reflection in the water. The composition follows the conventions of the classical landscape tradition, featuring a balanced arrangement of dark, framing trees on the right and a distant, atmospheric vista on the left. A ruined structure sits atop a rocky outcrop in the middle distance, overlooking a valley that leads the eye toward a calm sea.

Vivares was a French engraver who spent much of his career in London, where he became known for his technical skill in translating the atmospheric qualities of oil paintings into the medium of print. His work was highly regarded for its ability to capture the subtle gradations of light and shadow, which are evident here in the delicate cross-hatching used to define the foliage and the expansive, luminous sky. The print includes the original publication details, noting that it was published by Arthur Pond and held in the collection of Peter Delmé, Esq. at the time of its creation. The inclusion of these details provides a clear provenance for the original painting from which this print was derived. The scene is typical of the eighteenth-century appreciation for the idealised, pastoral landscapes of the seventeenth-century masters. It offers a window into the period's fascination with classical mythology and the structured, harmonious view of nature that defined the era's aesthetic preferences. The print remains a precise example of the collaborative relationship between painters and engravers during the mid-eighteenth century, documenting works that were then housed in private British collections.