Country Ballet (Ballet Champêtre), from Essai de Papilloneries Humaines par Saint Aubin

Charles Germain de Saint-Aubin

ca. 1756–60 · Etching; first state of two · Drawings and Prints

Country Ballet (Ballet Champêtre), from 'Essay on Human Butterflies by Saint Aubin' (Essai de Papilloneries Humaines par Saint Aubin), with a design for a stage set upon which stand four 'human butterflies', dressed with insect-like leotards, masks with long antennae, and large butterfly wings on their backs. Two of them, on the left, playing instruments, while the other two, on the right, dance. The stage set features a pasture, which stands on a base made up of scrolling ornamental motifs, flanked on the front by a cartouche with the title 'Ballet Champêtre' inscribed in it, framed by stylized, undulating leaves. Enclosing the scene with the dancing butterflies is a sort of canopy, made up of scrolling branches and leaves, which meet on the upper part of the print, forming a bundle of tree branches, from which hang four thin garlands of flowers and leaves.

Artist

Charles Germain de Saint-Aubin

Date

ca. 1756–60

Medium

Etching; first state of two

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund and Rogers Fund, 1982