Artwork
S'il m'etoit aussi fidele
S'il m'etoit aussi fidele is an ink print by the Baroque artist Antoine Francois Dennel. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Antoine François Dennel’s print S’il m’etoit aussi fidele, executed in 1778, is an engraving that combines etching, drypoint and aquatint techniques. The work measures roughly a typical sheet size for eighteenth‑century French prints and presents a domestic interior scene rendered in monochrome tones.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a partially clothed woman reclining on a couch, one arm resting on a pillow, while a small dog sits on a nearby stool, gazing toward her. The setting, with heavy drapery and a window framed by substantial columns, creates a subdued, intimate atmosphere that suggests a moment of quiet contemplation or private repose.
Technique & Style
Dennel employs fine line work and delicate shading to model the softness of fabrics and the smoothness of the figure’s skin. The use of drypoint adds a slightly burr‑rich edge to the lines, while aquatint provides tonal washes that deepen shadows and enhance the overall chiaroscuro effect, giving the scene a three‑dimensional presence.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, the print belongs to a period when French artists frequently explored intimate genre scenes through printmaking. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work appears in catalogues of Dennel’s oeuvre and has been cited in studies of French engraving practices of the 1770s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antoine Francois Dennel (1760–1806) was an artist, born in Abbeville.
