Artwork

Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 (Renewal of Alliance with the Swiss 1663) [pl. 18]

Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 (Renewal of Alliance with the Swiss 1663) [pl. 18] is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Baptiste Massé. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The title at the bottom, *Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses*, hints this celebrates a 1663 agreement.

This image is an engraving packed with figures and symbols. In the center, a woman in a robe holds hands with a child while a man in armor stands nearby. Above them, a shield with a crown sits on a pedestal. Two muscular men flank the scene—one holds a wreath, the other leans on a column. The background is filled with ornate carvings, garlands, and swirling patterns.

The title at the bottom, *Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses*, hints this celebrates a 1663 agreement. The mix of armor, crowns, and classical figures suggests a mix of power and tradition.

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Overview

Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 is an engraving on laid paper created by Jean-Baptiste Massé in 1752. The work commemorates the 1663 renewal of the diplomatic alliance between France and Switzerland.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts a symbolic scene of alliance, featuring a robed woman (likely representing France) holding hands with a child, alongside a man in armor. A crowned shield, muscular figures with a wreath and column, and ornate background elements convey themes of power, tradition, and unity.

Technique & Style

Executed in engraving, the piece showcases Massé's skill in this medium, characterized by intricate details, swirling patterns, and a dense composition. The style blends classical motifs with symbolic figures, typical of 18th-century French artistic conventions.

History & Provenance

Created in 1752 by Jean-Baptiste Massé, a court artist known for his work under Louis XV and his role in training notable artists. The engraving is part of a broader body of work, including illustrated volumes such as the *Galerie de Versailles*.

Context

The work reflects the diplomatic and artistic climate of 18th-century France, where such alliances were celebrated through symbolic art. Massé's engagement with historical events and his use of classical imagery situates the piece within the broader cultural narrative of the time.

Legacy

While specific legacy details of this engraving are not highlighted, Massé's overall contribution to French art, particularly in engraving and his influence on subsequent artists (e.g., Jean-Étienne Liotard), underscores the piece's place within a larger artistic heritage.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jean-Baptiste Massé

Jean-Baptiste Massé (29 December 1687, in Paris – 26 September 1767, in Paris) was a French miniature painter, engraver, and draftsman, best remembered as the court painter of Louis XV, for training Jean-Étienne Liotard…