Figure Drawing: Bernard Picart - Academic Studies of the Human Form

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Bernard Picart - Academic Studies of the Human Form

Academic Study, Saturn Academic Study

Academic Study, Academic Study

These engravings are from Impostures Innocentes, on Recueil d'Estampes d'après divers Peintres Illustres, gravées a leur Imitation, et selon le gout particulier de chacun d'eux., by Bernard Picart, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1734. Picart was born in 1673 and died in 1733, he was the son of an engraver, Etienne Picart.

The prints from the portfolio are for sale on Ebay.

More examples of his work are also on sale on Ebay.

Venus, Diana

Picart was a prolific author of books of engravings in the 18th century. A particularly important work was his Religious Ceremonies and Costumes of all the People of the World. Margaret Jacob explains the tumult that led Picart to Amsterdam and his conversion to Protestantism in the article titled The Nature of Eighteenth Century Religious Radicalism. She paints a picture of the influx of refugees "which produced social, cultural, linguistic, and especially religious diversity of a sort never before seen in Europe."

In addition she notes that Picart and his circle located in cites which produced almost half the books published in Europe by 1700.

The following is a list from Bibliography of eighteenth century art and illustrated books By J. Lewine.

Canadian Wedding Ceremony

Picart (B.). Cérémonies et Coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde, representées par des figures dessinées par Bernard Picart avec des explications historiques, etc. Amsterdam, 1723-43, 8 vols. in 9, fol. Superstitions anciennes et modernes et préjugés vulgaires qui ont induit les peuples à des usages contraires à la religion. Amsterdam, J. F. Bernard, 1733-36, 2 vols., fol., 266 plates. Copies in old morocco or on large paper command prices varying between £6 and £25 ; ordinary paper in calf being of nominal value and very little appreciated, about -£3.

The first volumes were reissued in 1735 and 1739, and the whole work was reprinted in 7 vols. in 1741.

Picart (B.). The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the several Nations of the known World. London, 1733-9, 7 vols., fol., 223 plates (40s. to 50s., and more on large paper).

Susanna and the Elders

Picart (B.). Œuvre, 4 vols., fol., comprising plates engraved by or after Picard, among which we point out those with different titles and dates, viz. : Figures de la Bible, Amsterdam, chez B. Picart, marchand d'estampes, à l'Etoile, 1720, fol., 70 plates (including that of the "Commandements deDieu"), 31 large historiated tailpieces, and 98 ornamented letters ; Bibliotheca marckiana frontispiece, 8vo. ; Œuvres de Jules César, 1713, 8vo. ; Œuvres d'Horace, 1708, 8vo. ; Œuvres d'Homère, 1710, frontispiece and 24 plates, 12mo. ; Satyre Ménippée, frontispiece, 8vo. ; Portraits des principaux personnages qui ont assisté au concile tenu à Constance en 1414, 4to., 1712, 20 plates; Histoire de Méléagre (Tapisseries de S. A. R. le duc d'Orléans représentant l') gravées d'après Charles Lebrun par Picart, 1714, 7 plates in folio (the first proofs are before the " adresse " of Buldet) ; Atlas historique, 1721, folio, frontispiece; Système de Law (plates on the) ; Dessus de tabatières, numerous ovals and squares ; Diverses modes dessinées d'après nature, Amsterdam, 1718, title and 65 plates, 12mo. ; Comédies de Térence (Les), 46 outline plates 12mo. ; Epithalams, 1723, 13 plates ; Figures pour le Lutrin de Boileau Despréaux, allegorical frontispiece with medal portrait dated 1727, engraved title and 6 plates within ornamental borders dated 1728, folio ; Œuvers diverses de B. de Fontenelle, frontispiece with medal portrait, 5 large folio plates dated 1727, and numerous vignettes and tailpieces ; Biblia Sacra, etc. Utrecht, C. G. Lefebvre, 1732, fol., frontispiece and plates ; Mémoires de Frédéric-Henri, prince d'Orange, Amsterdam, P. Humbert, 1733, 4to., engraved frontispiece, and 9 half-page engravings and plans, etc.

This copy is in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. The " Diverses Modes," etc., was reprinted : " Paris, Chéreau, s.d." (15«.).

Picart (B.). Recueil de Lions dessinés d'après nature par divers maîtres et gravés par B. Picart, divisé en six livres. Amsterdam, 1729, oblong fol., frontispiece and 42 plates, after Durer, Rembrandt, Le Brun, and B. Picart (20s. to 30s.).

Picart (B.). Impostures Innocentes ou Recueil d'Estampes d'après divers peintres illustres, etc., par Bernard Picart, dessinateur et graveur, avec son éloge historique et le catalogue de ses œuvres. Amsterdam, chez la veuve de B. Picart, 1734, fol., fleuron on the title, portrait of the artist by J. van der Schley after Des Angles, and 73 plates containing 80 subjects after Raphaël, Rembrandt, Parmesan, etc. (30s. to 40s.).

Picart (B.). Premier des Magnifiques Carosses de Monseigneur le duc d'Ossuna Ambassadeur extraordinaire et premier plenipotentiaire de Sa Majesté Catholique Phillipe V. pour 416 PICART—PIGANIOL

la Paix faits pour l'entrée publique de son excellence à Utrecht, 1713. Se vendent chez B. Picart, sur le Cingel vis-à-vis le Marché aux pommes, à l'Etoile à Amsterdam, 1714, folio, engraved title and 6 plates (£3 to £4).

Picart (B.). A New Drawing Book of Six Academy Figures drawn aftcr Nature by the Celebrated Bd" Picart, engraved by F. Morellon La Cave. Sold by T. Major, engraver to his Majesty, and to his R.H. the Prince of Wales, in St. Martin's Lane, London. Livre de Desseins d'Academie, dessiné d'après Nature par le célèbre Bd" Picart et gravé par F. Morellon La Cave à Londres, 1757, 4to., engraved title and 6 plates (15s. to 20s.).