Artwork
La Fontaine de l'Amour
La Fontaine de l'Amour is a print by the Baroque artist Pierre-Alexandre Aveline. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Pierre‑Alexandre Aveline’s 1738 print, titled La Fontaine de l’Amour, is an etched proof executed on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
The composition balances human activity with the surrounding nature, inviting a quiet contemplation of the setting.
Pierre‑Alexandre Aveline’s 1738 print, titled La Fontaine de l’Amour, is an etched proof executed on laid paper. The work presents a tranquil woodland scene where a small group of figures gathers beneath a tree, while a distant monument bearing the same title rises among the foliage. The composition balances human activity with the surrounding nature, inviting a quiet contemplation of the setting.
Subject & Meaning
In the foreground, a seated figure holds a scroll, another leans on a staff, and a child engages in play, all dressed in flowing robes that suggest a timeless, perhaps allegorical, narrative. The central monument, inscribed “FONTAINE DE L’AMOUR,” functions as a focal point, hinting at themes of love’s source or a poetic gathering place within the forest.
Technique & Style
Aveline employs fine, cross‑hatching lines to render delicate shadows and the texture of bark, foliage, and fabric. The etched proof demonstrates the precision of 18th‑century French printmaking, with subtle gradations that give depth to the scene while maintaining the clarity typical of the period’s graphic works. The overall effect is a detailed, lively tableau rendered in monochrome.
History & Provenance
Created in 1738, La Fontaine de l’Amour is documented as an etched proof, indicating it may represent an early or trial impression of a larger series. The work is attributed to Aveline, a noted French engraver active in the early 18th century, whose prints were circulated among collectors and connoisseurs of the time. Its current location and ownership history remain unrecorded in the available sources.
Artist & collection
