Dec 17, 2008

House of Cards

House of Cards

Date unknown

Pierre Filloeuil

(French, 1696-aft 1734)

after Jean-Siméon Chardin

(French, 1699–1779)

Engraving

Sheet: 42.1 x 57.1 cm (16 9/16 x 22 1/2 in.); Platemark: 27.5 x 31.1 cm (10 13/16 x 12 1/4 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1995.265

Catalogue raisonné: Inventaire du Fonds, Français 144

State: II/III

Location

Description

Chardin's (1699-1779) quiet picture of a boy studiously balancing cards is one of several paintings in which he depicted children or adolescents absorbed in thoughtful play or study. The rhyme at the bottom of the print comments on the resemblance between childhood and adult realms:
You are wrong to make fun of this adolescent
And of his useless amusement
Ready at first breeze to capsize
We are bored even at the age we should be wise
Out of our brains there often blow
The most ridiculous châteaus.

See also
Collection: 
PR - Engraving
Department: 
Prints
Type of artwork: 
Print
Medium: 
Engraving

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