18th Century French Rococo Pastoral Engravings by Charles Eisen and Robert Gaillard.
Charles Eisen was renowned for his charming genre paintings, which were immensely popular with an art market eager for pretty frivolous images. Eisen's charm and grace, as well as his considerable talent, brought him to the attention of the King's mistress, Madame du Pompadour. Through her influence Eisen soon became a popular Court painter and a professor at the Acadèmie de Saint-Luc. Eisen was granted the honor of instructing Madame Pompadour in drawing, a privilege, which insured court favours as well as aristocratic patronage.
Like Boucher, Eisen rejuvenated the 'pastoral tradition' in French art. His idealic images are wonderful examples of the decorative paintings and prints that would have adorned the walls of aristocratic homes across France. Typical of this period Eisen depicts a young couple seated in a woodland setting. The man, who is obviously a shepherd with his flock scattered around him, places a rose into his lover's hair while she threads a ribbon around the neck of a restful sheep. This picturesque image is typical of French art during this period, which consistently avoided any reference to the toil of rustic life. Like so many Rococo paintings this image concentrates on an idealized vision of the country. It remains true to the Rococo tradition, and creates a visually charming image that lulls the viewer with its sumptuous detail and decorative subject..
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