id:			79482
accession number:	2015.150
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2015.150
updated:		2023-08-23 17:50:11.954000

The Pranksters (Les Espiègles), c. 1798. Charles-Melchior Descourtis (French, 1753–1820), after Frédéric Schall (French, 1752–1825). Wash manner etching and engraving printed in blue, red, yellow, and black ; sheet: 57 x 45 cm (22 7/16 x 17 11/16 in.); to borderline: 46.4 x 37.4 cm (18 1/4 x 14 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Print Club of Cleveland in honor of the museum's one-hundredth anniversary 2015.150

title:				The Pranksters (Les Espiègles)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1798
creation date earliest:		1793
creation date latest:		1803
current location:		
creditline:			Gift of the Print Club of Cleveland in honor of the museum's one-hundredth anniversary
copyright:			

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culture:	France, 18th century
technique:	Wash manner etching and engraving printed in blue, red, yellow, and black 
department:	Prints
collection:	PR - Engraving
type:		Print
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: Portalis & Béraldi 3; Model/Springer p. 50, plate 20.

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CREATORS

* Charles-Melchior Descourtis (French, 1753–1820)  - artist

* Frédéric Schall (French, 1752–1825)  - artist
French painter, 1752-1825
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measurements: Sheet: 57 x 45 cm (22 7/16 x 17 11/16 in.); to borderline: 46.4 x 37.4 cm (18 1/4 x 14 3/4 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

	inscription:	In plate, below image: Schall pinx. Descourtis sculp. A Paris, chez Descourtis, Rue des Grands Degrés No. 12.	
	translation:	
	remark:		

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Elegance and Intrigue: French Society in 18th-century Prints and Drawings
	opening date:   2016-07-16T04:00:00
	<i>Elegance and Intrigue: French Society in 18th-century Prints and Drawings</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 16-November 6, 2016).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

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fun fact:


digital description:


wall description:
This meticulously crafted color print reproduces an oil painting by Jean-Frédéric Schall, an artist best known for his pastoral and mildly erotic scenes.During the French Revolution (1789–99), the market for deluxe color prints declined, as titillating subjects and signs of luxury were considered immoral. When attitudes relaxed around 1800, printmakers like Descourtis made a few color prints using multiple plates to layer tinted inks as they had before the Revolution. However, this time-consuming and expensive process was soon replaced by hand coloring that workers could more cheaply and easily accomplish.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.150/2015.150_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.150/2015.150_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2015.150/2015.150_full.tif