Artwork
Vertumnus and Pomona
Vertumnus and Pomona is a print by the Romanticist artist Jean-François Janinet. It dates from 1776 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This print, titled Vertumnus and Pomona, is a work by Janinet featuring a gold leaf border, a technique innovated by his teacher Louis-Marin Bonnet.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a scene inspired by classical mythology, where Vertumnus, disguised as an old woman, approaches Pomona, a nymph who guards her orchard. The characters are represented by Venus and another figure, with Venus hiding her face behind a mask of fruit.
Technique & Style
The print is notable for its use of gold leaf borders, a technique that was innovative at the time but also illicit, as printmakers were not officially permitted to use gold leaf.
History & Provenance
Only about 20 prints with gold leaf borders were produced by Janinet and Bonnet before they were stopped by authorities due to the illegality of the technique.
Artist & collection
