Jean Mathieu, “Le Serment d'Amour”, 1786, after Jean Honoré Fragonard

Jean Mathieu (1749–1815)

“Le Serment d'Amour” (The Vow of Love), 1786

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching with engraving on wove paper, hand-coloured with watercolour—possibly from the time of printing. This is a lifetime impression of the second state, prior to the erasure of the word “français” and its replacement with “du Roi” in the third and final state, published in Paris by Jean Mathieu. The design is based on a painting by Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), now housed at the Villa Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard in Grasse, France (see: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fragonard_-_Le_serment_d%27amour_143N09301_7VMK3.jpg).

The impression is strong and well-printed, with margins. The hand-colouring is delicately applied and appears unfaded despite the age of the print. Aside from a few minor bumps and subtle age-toning, the sheet is in excellent condition—free of tears, holes, folds, abrasions, and significant stains.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 66.3 x 51 cm
• Platemark (soft): 58.8 x 44.3 cm
• Image Borderline: 57.5 x 43.2 cm

Lettering in Plate:

• Lower tablet: “LE SERMENT D'AMOUR/ Gravé par J.Mathieu d'après le Tableau d' h.Fragonard P.^tre français/ Paris chez l'Auteur Cloitre S^t.Benoit Maison de Mr. Demarteau.”

References:

• Portalis 154; Le Blanc 15; Lawrence & Dighton 143
• British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1871-0812-3726
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/369384
• Art Institute of Chicago: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/30069/le-serment-d-armour-the-sermon-of-love  

Price & Shipping:

AU$343 (approximately US$239.76 / €201.20 / £174.40), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you are interested in acquiring this large and renowned etching—a quintessential French Rococo vision of love, capturing a couple sealing their pledge of devotion by each placing a hand on a sculpted tablet held by putti—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will be happy to send a PayPal invoice for a smooth and secure purchase.