Artwork
Le retour a la vertu
Le retour a la vertu is an ink print by the Baroque artist Joseph de Longueil. It dates from 1761 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Le retour à la vertu is a print created by Joseph de Longueil in 1761, combining color aquatint, stipple, and etching techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a man in a red coat leaning over a seated woman in a blue and white gown, in an ornate bedroom with heavy curtains and decorative statues. The title suggests a moral lesson, possibly about returning to virtuous behavior.
Technique & Style
The print's layered appearance is achieved through a mix of etching, aquatint, and stipple techniques, resulting in a richly detailed and textured image with a sense of grandeur.
Artist & collection
