'Une petite fille reçevant ses étrennes' [A little girl receives her gifts]

Book Description

[Frankfurt: circa 1770]. Engraving, by Juste Chevillet, after Schenau (1 1/2 inch tear to left margin). 17 1/2 x 13 7/8 inches. 25 5/8 x 18 7/8 inches. A fine first state impression of this charming image, printed 'avant la lettre': before the addition of any lettering to the title panel. A lady of fashion, seated in an opulent interior, surounded by the trappings of wealth, leans forward slightly to hand some coins to her daughter. The small child stands looking up at her mother, one hand clasping an overflowing apron full of presents: a tankard, a corset. A note of piquancy is added by the child's gesture with her other hand: she holds it up to her lips as if to say "The gift of a single kiss from you would mean more to me than all these material gifts". Le Blanc II, p.11, no.81

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