four prints mounted together a ("Sculptors #64"): man at right with hammer and chisel, working on a large bust on a tall stool; man at center with a large sheet of material, one end resting on ground; two figures at left--one standing at an easel; some Classical sculptures at center and right b ("Engravers #65"): man at right, seen from back, seated at a large table; seated man at left, with a standing man looking over his shoulder, working at a slanted drawing board; dog in LLQ c ("Printers #66"): man at left turning a very large four-part wheel on a printing press; man at other end of press at center; man wearing top hat at center right; two other men working at a table at right d ("Print Dealer #67"): two men looking at rack of prints at right in front of shop, with man in doorway at center; gesturing man at right with dog

Four plates from "Suite d'ouvriers des différents classes", c. 1814

expand_more

Etchingsexpand_more

Anonymous giftexpand_more  2018.96.9a-d

Not on Viewexpand_more

Sculptors (top left):

In this idealized view of a sculpture workshop, the artisans drive their inspiration from ancient models, which are present in reduced copies. The athletic poses of the sculptors seem as much inspired by the ancients as their artworks are.

Engravers (top right):
This etching comes from a series on workers of different classes. Here a gentleman looks over the shoulder of a diligent artisan working with an etching needle on a copper plate. The seated figure facing away from us is an engraver hard at work on a reproduction of a painting of the Biblical heroine Judith holding the head of Holofernes.

Printers (bottom left):
A team of printers busily turns out intaglio prints as a gentleman inspects the results of their labor. The man to the far right applies ink to the copper printing plate, while the center man feeds the press, and the left man turns the crank. Above them, prints hang on a line to dry.

Print Dealers (bottom right):
This is a view of the entrance to an old-time print dealer. Art lovers eagerly examine the wares displayed in portfolios or clipped to lines outside the shop. The print-seller doffs his hat in greeting a customer who seems to have found something he wants.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Four plates from "Suite d'ouvriers des différents classes"
Artist Life
1750–1818
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2018.96.9a-d
Provenance
John E. Andrus III (Wayzata, Minn.); Julie Andrus (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

four prints mounted together a ("Sculptors #64"): man at right with hammer and chisel, working on a large bust on a tall stool; man at center with a large sheet of material, one end resting on ground; two figures at left--one standing at an easel; some Classical sculptures at center and right b ("Engravers #65"): man at right, seen from back, seated at a large table; seated man at left, with a standing man looking over his shoulder, working at a slanted drawing board; dog in LLQ c ("Printers #66"): man at left turning a very large four-part wheel on a printing press; man at other end of press at center; man wearing top hat at center right; two other men working at a table at right d ("Print Dealer #67"): two men looking at rack of prints at right in front of shop, with man in doorway at center; gesturing man at right with dog