L'Enseigne de Gersaint
Encyclopedia
L'Enseigne de Gersaint, or "Gersaint's Shopsign", (1720) is a painting by Jean-Antoine Watteau, which is considered to be his last masterpiece. It was painted as a shop sign for the marchand-mercier
, or art dealer, Edme François Gersaint. According to Daniel Roche
the sign functioned more as an advertisement for the artist than the dealer.
The painting exaggerates the size of Gersaint's cramped boutique
, hardly more than a permanent booth with a little back-shop, on the medieval Pont Notre-Dame
, in the heart of Paris, both creating and following fashion as he purveyed works of art and luxurious trifles to an aristocratic clientele.
The painting sets these scenes of aristocratic connoisseurship in the context of the art with which the patrons and staff are engaged. The young man offering his hand to the woman in pink is set against a series of female nudes, while puritanical figures in portraits at the left seem to look down disapprovingly. At the right, there are numerous images of orgies and naked figures, implying that art expresses the hidden lustful feelings of the genteel figures in the shop, who merely gaze at one another or engage in polite gestures of intimacy.
Commonly, the painting is interpreted as a commentary on the shift in aristocratic culture - or relief - that occurred during the government of the more licentious Régent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
(1715-1723), after the death of Louis XIV and before the accession to the throne of Louis XV. The boxing of Pierre Mignard
's portrait of the deceased king implies the end of the old régime.
was made in 1732, it attracted the attention of Frederick the Great of Prussia
. He bought it and it remained in Germany thereafter, now forming part of the collection at the Charlottenburg Palace
, Berlin
.
Marchand-mercier
A marchand-mercier is a French term for a type of entrepreneur working outside the guild system of craftsmen but carefully constrained by the regulations of a corporation under rules codified in 1613.. The reduplicative term literally means a merchant of merchandise, but in the 18th century took...
, or art dealer, Edme François Gersaint. According to Daniel Roche
Daniel Roche
Daniel Roche is a French social and cultural historian. His primary field of research is the cultural history of France during the later years of the Ancien Régime.-Historiography:...
the sign functioned more as an advertisement for the artist than the dealer.
The painting exaggerates the size of Gersaint's cramped boutique
Boutique
A boutique is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry. The word is French for "shop", via Latin from Greek ἀποθήκη , "storehouse"....
, hardly more than a permanent booth with a little back-shop, on the medieval Pont Notre-Dame
Pont Notre-Dame
The Pont Notre-Dame is a bridge that crosses the Seine in Paris, France linking the quai de Gesvres on the Rive Droite with the quai de la Corse on the Île de la Cité...
, in the heart of Paris, both creating and following fashion as he purveyed works of art and luxurious trifles to an aristocratic clientele.
Content
The picture is painted on two square canvasses, which combine to form a single image depicting clients and staff at the shop. As a worker packs away a portrait of Louis XIV at the left, in the centre a young man offers his hand to a woman who is stepping over the threshold of the shop. At the right an elderly couple examine a painting of nudes, and a pretty young shop assistant, possibly Gersaint's wife, shows a painting to a group of well-dressed young people.The painting sets these scenes of aristocratic connoisseurship in the context of the art with which the patrons and staff are engaged. The young man offering his hand to the woman in pink is set against a series of female nudes, while puritanical figures in portraits at the left seem to look down disapprovingly. At the right, there are numerous images of orgies and naked figures, implying that art expresses the hidden lustful feelings of the genteel figures in the shop, who merely gaze at one another or engage in polite gestures of intimacy.
Commonly, the painting is interpreted as a commentary on the shift in aristocratic culture - or relief - that occurred during the government of the more licentious Régent Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
(1715-1723), after the death of Louis XIV and before the accession to the throne of Louis XV. The boxing of Pierre Mignard
Pierre Mignard
Pierre Mignard , called "Le Romain" to distinguish him from his brother Nicolas Mignard, was a French painter...
's portrait of the deceased king implies the end of the old régime.
Provenance
The painting never actually functioned as an external shop sign, spending only fifteen days at the shop. Watteau himself asked Gersaint to allow him to paint it, complaining of "cold fingers" that needed some exercise. It was soon bought by Claude Glucq, who may be the standing figure depicted looking at the painting by the desk. It was then acquired by Watteau's patron Jean de Julienne. After an engravingEngraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
was made in 1732, it attracted the attention of Frederick the Great of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. He bought it and it remained in Germany thereafter, now forming part of the collection at the Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, Germany, and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. It is located in the Charlottenburg district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf burough.The palace was built at the end of the 17th century...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.