Artwork
Les Présents du jour de l'an
Les Présents du jour de l'an is a paint print by the Baroque artist Louis-Marin Bonnet. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Louis‑Marin Bonnet’s 1764 print, titled *Les Présents du jour de l’an*, depicts a domestic interior where a small gathering celebrates the arrival of the New Year. Rendered in color stipple, the scene presents a group of elegantly dressed figures exchanging gifts amid a warmly lit room, its walls adorned with curtains and a patterned rug covering the floor.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman in a pale dress seated beside a teapot, surrounded by standing and kneeling participants holding parcels and books. A child in blue and a small dog complete the tableau, suggesting a familial, convivial atmosphere. The title, translating to “New Year’s Day Gifts,” indicates the work captures the ritual of gift‑giving that marked the holiday.
Technique & Style
Executed in color stipple, the print relies on fine dots of pigment to build tonal variation and subtle shading, a method popular in the mid‑eighteenth century for reproducing delicate textures. While the overall mood is gentle, the precise rendering of fabrics, furnishings, and light reflects the lingering influence of Baroque attention to detail and narrative clarity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1764, the work is attributed to French artist Louis‑Marin Bonnet, known for his prints and illustrations. The piece has been documented in several 19th‑century catalogues of French prints, though its ownership trail prior to that remains sparse. It is presently held in a European museum collection, where it serves as an example of domestic genre imagery from the period.
Artist & collection
