Artwork
Mlle Lescot
Mlle Lescot is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1780 French print portrays a woman identified as Mlle Lescot. Executed as a single sheet, the image reflects the portraiture conventions of late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking, offering a glimpse of contemporary fashion and social presentation. The work is presently held in the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of historic prints.
Subject & Meaning
Mlle Lescot, whose identity remains obscure beyond the name inscribed on the plate, is presented in a poised stance typical of genteel portraiture of the era. The depiction likely served to commemorate the sitter’s status or to circulate her likeness among acquaintances, a common practice before the rise of photographic portraiture.
Technique & Style
The image was produced using a relief or intaglio printing process common in the 1780s, employing fine line work and shading to render facial features and clothing details. The style aligns with the neoclassical aesthetic prevalent in French print culture, emphasizing clarity, balanced composition, and restrained ornamentation.
History & Provenance
First issued in France in 1780, the print has survived through private ownership before entering the Harry Beard Collection, a repository known for its focus on eighteenth‑century graphic arts. Documentation of its early circulation is limited, but its preservation suggests it was valued as a representative example of period portrait prints.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
