Two exquisite and rare etchings of ancient sculptures by Pierre Bouillon (1776-1831), from his book Musée des antiques, published in Paris between 1811-1827. The two plates, titled Gladiateur-Borghese and Achille, depict the ancient marble statues from the Louvre museum. Both signed lower left Dessiné et gravé par Bouillon.
French, circa 1810's.
 
Why we like it
Exquisitely engraved in the early 18th century, these prints perfectly reflect the essence of the Grand Tour, the artist's appetite for discovery, for the unexplored, for the exotic.
 
History
These plates are from the first and only edition of Pierre Bouillon's monumental publication on classical sculpture, devoted exclusively to the classical sculpture of the Louvre Museum, consisting of plates which he drew and etched himself, Musée des antiques dessiné et gravé par P. Bouillon. The first volume is devoted to classical deities, the second to mythological and historical Greek and Roman personages, and the last on altars, vases, candelabra, tombs, ornaments, inscriptions, etc. Several plates from this publication are in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
 
Pierre Bouillon (1776–1831) was a French painter and engraver. As drawing instructor at the Lycée Louis Le Grand in Paris, he was a teacher of Théodore Géricault and perhaps also Eugène Delacroix. 
 
Plates measure 52cm by 33cm (20.5in by 13in), frames 62cm by 42 (24.5 in by 16.5 in)
 
Good antique condition, minor foxing, modern silvered frames