DOI Heft:
Nr. 145 (April 1905)
DOI Artikel:Emanuel, Frank L.: The etchings of Charles Jacque
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20711#0234
Jacques Etchings
fortis. To Jacque's efforts was due that revival
of etching in France which has produced such
splendid fruits from the forties onwards. His
earlier plates, as a rule small in size, were executed
entirely for his own pleasure and to satisfy his own
artistic instincts; but these little works became
known, and were much prized. In course of time
print publishers came forward anxious to satisfy
an ever-increasing demand for Jacque's work on
the part of the public. But publishers had tastes
to be satisfied, and so had the public. Jacque's
etchings decreased somewhat in artistry in his
efforts to wed these outside ideals with his own.
His military service over, Jacque obtained
numerous commissions for the illustration of
books, several of them standard works by British
authors, a fact which may be accounted for by the
circumstance that he spent two of these early years
"le porcher" (1850) from the etching in England. In 1830 the Jacques settled in Bur-
by charles jacque gundy, Charles, and presumably his brother Leon,
accompanying them. Leon Jacque was an etcher
Ostade, Ribera, and Hobbema. Evidence of the of great delicacy and taste, whose work, although
influence of Rembrandt and Ostade on Jacque less forceful, could, were it not signed, easily be
shows itself in the latter's work, although Karel du mistaken for that of his more celebrated brother.
Jardin was evidently the master-etcher and animal Perhaps to say that Charles " settled " in Bur-
draughtsman from whom came the keenest inspi- gundy were to use a wrong term, for although he
ration. was there amongst the subjects he loved and
Detractors of Jacque have affirmed that he fol- depicted best, and it is not known that he ever
lowed in the wake of J. F. Millet. This charge made any other than the Antwerp and English
may be dismissed at once, since Jacque had settled excursions abroad, yet Charles Monselet laughingly
on the matter and manner of his long series of complains that Jacque had a mania for travelling,
rural subjects while Millet was painting nudes for and was never to be found in that part of the
the Paris dealers, and had not yet started to work country where he (Jacque) was reputed to be.
in the field wherein he achieved fame.
To Jacque, therefore, might well be
accorded some of the excess of lustre
shed upon Millet in his role of
innovator.
Early in life Jacque bore arms for
his country, and was engaged in the
operations at the siege of Antwerp.
Among the weapons he carried was a
needle, as evidenced by a view near
Antwerp etched at that period of his
career.
This was but a forerunner of over
five hundred etchings and drypoints
with which this industrious worker
has enriched the world. With his
dignified and masterly paintings we
are not concerned in this article
beyond recording that he as thoroughly
understood the best qualities to be ,, . „ ,
n " les tueurs de cochons (1844) from the etching
obtained from oil-paint as from aqua- by charles jacque
218
fortis. To Jacque's efforts was due that revival
of etching in France which has produced such
splendid fruits from the forties onwards. His
earlier plates, as a rule small in size, were executed
entirely for his own pleasure and to satisfy his own
artistic instincts; but these little works became
known, and were much prized. In course of time
print publishers came forward anxious to satisfy
an ever-increasing demand for Jacque's work on
the part of the public. But publishers had tastes
to be satisfied, and so had the public. Jacque's
etchings decreased somewhat in artistry in his
efforts to wed these outside ideals with his own.
His military service over, Jacque obtained
numerous commissions for the illustration of
books, several of them standard works by British
authors, a fact which may be accounted for by the
circumstance that he spent two of these early years
"le porcher" (1850) from the etching in England. In 1830 the Jacques settled in Bur-
by charles jacque gundy, Charles, and presumably his brother Leon,
accompanying them. Leon Jacque was an etcher
Ostade, Ribera, and Hobbema. Evidence of the of great delicacy and taste, whose work, although
influence of Rembrandt and Ostade on Jacque less forceful, could, were it not signed, easily be
shows itself in the latter's work, although Karel du mistaken for that of his more celebrated brother.
Jardin was evidently the master-etcher and animal Perhaps to say that Charles " settled " in Bur-
draughtsman from whom came the keenest inspi- gundy were to use a wrong term, for although he
ration. was there amongst the subjects he loved and
Detractors of Jacque have affirmed that he fol- depicted best, and it is not known that he ever
lowed in the wake of J. F. Millet. This charge made any other than the Antwerp and English
may be dismissed at once, since Jacque had settled excursions abroad, yet Charles Monselet laughingly
on the matter and manner of his long series of complains that Jacque had a mania for travelling,
rural subjects while Millet was painting nudes for and was never to be found in that part of the
the Paris dealers, and had not yet started to work country where he (Jacque) was reputed to be.
in the field wherein he achieved fame.
To Jacque, therefore, might well be
accorded some of the excess of lustre
shed upon Millet in his role of
innovator.
Early in life Jacque bore arms for
his country, and was engaged in the
operations at the siege of Antwerp.
Among the weapons he carried was a
needle, as evidenced by a view near
Antwerp etched at that period of his
career.
This was but a forerunner of over
five hundred etchings and drypoints
with which this industrious worker
has enriched the world. With his
dignified and masterly paintings we
are not concerned in this article
beyond recording that he as thoroughly
understood the best qualities to be ,, . „ ,
n " les tueurs de cochons (1844) from the etching
obtained from oil-paint as from aqua- by charles jacque
218