Jean Boucher de Bourges

Little is known about the training the painter, Jean Boucher, underwent. In 1596 he travelled to Italy, where he was active in Florence and Rome. In 1600 he returned to Bourges and there is documentary evidence that he was in Fontainebleau in 1602. Enjoying success as a painter in Bourges, he received numerous commissions, including one for a series of portraits of the monarch Henry IV for his native town. Boucher ran a flourishing studio and was the first to teach the young Pierre Mignard.

The present etching, probably an early work, is extremely rare. Thuillier knew of just two further impressions, which are now in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. The simple, rudimentary etching technique Boucher employs gives the work a somewhat anachronistic appearance, but this does not detract from its considerable expressiveness. The artist draws on a modest repertoire of simple cross and parallel hatchings. The entire focus is on the figure of St. John sleeping, who is portrayed here in a very vivid manner with great economy of means. The purist style of the etching is reminiscent of such 15th century Venetian etchers as Giulio Campagnola. A fine, even impression with thread margins, in good condition. The work is a valuable example of printmaking from the era of Henry IV.

12.000 €