Holy Family with Putti - Jean-Claude-Richard de Saint-Non

A delicate 1773 etching by Jean-Claude-Richard de Saint-Non, based on a drawing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, depicting the Holy Family with a group of playful putti.

This etching by Jean-Claude-Richard de Saint-Non, dated 1773, captures a scene of the Holy Family surrounded by a gathering of putti. The composition is based on a work by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, as indicated by the inscription 'Frago. del.' in the lower left corner. Saint-Non was a significant figure in the eighteenth-century French art world, known for his efforts to reproduce and disseminate the works of contemporary masters through printmaking.

The print displays the characteristic lightness and fluid line work associated with the Rococo period. The figures are arranged in a relaxed, pastoral setting beneath the boughs of a tree, which provides a natural canopy for the central group. The Virgin Mary sits with the Christ Child, while a multitude of putti engage in playful activities, offering flowers and interacting with the central figures. The use of aquatint allows for subtle tonal variations, creating a soft, atmospheric quality that defines the shadows and the foliage.

Saint-Non's technique here demonstrates his ability to translate the painterly qualities of Fragonard's original drawing into the medium of print. The lines are delicate and expressive, capturing the movement and grace of the figures. This work is part of a larger project in which Saint-Non documented various paintings he encountered during his travels in Italy, particularly those held in private collections such as the Palazzo del Duca di Torre in Naples. The print offers a glimpse into the collaborative relationship between artist and printmaker during this era, where the reproduction of art served as a primary means of study and appreciation for collectors and enthusiasts alike. The composition remains balanced, focusing on the gentle interaction between the sacred figures and the surrounding cherubic forms, typical of the period's preference for lighthearted, mythological, or religious themes.