Jean-Baptiste Le Prince and the “Russian Theme” in Lavis

Abstract

This paper discusses the phenomenon of “russerie” (“Russian theme”) and its specific embodiment in the work of the French engraver and artist Jean-Baptiste Le Prince (1734—1781). A student of François Boucher (1703—1770), he consistently developed the rocaille aesthetics of his teacher. Le Prince arrived in St. Petersburg in 1757. After spending five years in Russia, the artist returned to his homeland in France. Over the next decade, reflecting on the impressions received during his trip to Russia, he created numerous works devoted to the “Russian theme”. It was these works that formed the basis for “russerie” — a new genre of exoticism in European art. The most outstanding examples of the “Russian theme” in graphics are the prints produced in the new engraving method called lavis, invented by Le Prince (1769). These prints, creating the illusion of a watercolor drawing in printed graphics, have hardly attracted the attention of Russian scholars until recently. This article, for the first time, consistently examines the features of this technique and, basing on a number of archival documents, presents the reconstruction of public opinion and the evaluation of these works by the audience. The central part in the article is devoted to the “Russian theme” in lavis. There is shown the originality of “russerie” in lavis on the plot and stylistic levels. Besides, the article considers the relationship of this theme with “chinoiserie” and “turquerie”. In addition, the author outlines the development prospects of the “Russian theme”, which appeared under the influence of prints in the manner of lavis.