ANNE VALLAYER-COSTER
EIK KAHNG & M. ROLAND MICHEL Book Number: 70726 Product format: Hardback
Painter to the Court of Marie-Antoinette, Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818) was one of the most talented still-life painters of the French school. Her works, long prized by private collectors, are today located in some of the finest museums throughout the world. Our lavishly illustrated catalogue presents an array in full colour, and the text is by distinguished scholars of 18th century French art. Recently rediscovered paintings, including three royal portraits from the collection of Versailles and a hitherto unknown pastel of Marie-Antoinette, are published here for the first time. The authors look closely at her relationship with the landscape painter Joseph Vernet, her grappling with the precedent established by her immediate predecessor the still-life painter Jean-Siméon Chardin, the 18th century collectors of her art, and her place in the larger context of 18th century women painters and patrons. Her tulips are stunningly beautiful, not only in their botanical detail but exquisite colouring and texture. A Basket of Flowers with Butterflies held at the Louvre, Still Life with Jar of Apricots and Hurdy-Gurdy and the Orange Tree 1765, both by Henri-Horace Rowland Delaporte are also shown alongside Still Life with Game and Flowers in a White and Blue Porcelain Vase by Chardin, in full page colour plates. There are portraits of Coster in both engravings, a gouache on ivory and an oil painting to complete this catalogue of extant paintings, exhibited works and other media and exhibited works by other artists at the National Gallery of Art Washington and in Dallas. There are charming portraits in oval frames, one to each large page like the beautiful Bust of a Young Vestal 1779 and Satyrs and Putti Playing with a Panther, 1776, The White Soup Tureen and Attributes of Music, all glowing in colour plus smaller self portraits, roses and other flower portraits and a portrait of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Approximately 160 illus, many in colour. 2002 Yale University Press US first edition.
Published price: £40
Bibliophile price: £8.50
