Artwork
La nuit
La nuit is an ink print by the Baroque artist Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt. It dates from 1776 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
La nuit, an 1776 print by Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt, presents a nocturnal tableau rendered through etching and engraving. The composition balances a quiet landscape with human figures, inviting the viewer into a scene that feels both intimate and open-ended.
Subject & Meaning
In the foreground, a woman is supported by a male figure, suggesting a moment of assistance or rescue, while a second woman watches. Behind them, a cherubic statue rises amid trees, adding a gentle, perhaps allegorical, presence that tempers the human drama with a hint of the divine.
Technique & Style
Ghendt employs the fine lines of engraving alongside broader etched washes to model depth and texture. The interplay of light and shadow is subdued, contrasting with the more theatrical chiaroscuro typical of the Baroque, and the surface detail conveys the foliage and stone with a measured, almost contemplative hand.
History & Provenance
Created in the late eighteenth century, La nuit reflects Ghendt’s engagement with printmaking at a time when the medium served both artistic and didactic purposes. The work’s documented origin dates to 1776, though its subsequent ownership trail remains sparse, indicating it may have circulated among private collectors of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt
Emmanuel Jean Nepomucène de Ghendt (1738–1815) was an artist.
