ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Satyr's Family

1763
Not on view
Few painters in eighteenth-century France were formally trained in printmaking and, for the most part, they left the engraving of their work to professionals. Around 1763–64, Fragonard tried his hand at etching, ultimately producing a small oeuvre of under thirty prints, of which the four Bacchanals are among the most admired. His facility with the etching needle, which he treated as a drawing instrument, is breathtaking. Loosely inspired by antique motifs, the Bacchanals depict playful scenes of satyrs and nymphs in the form of reliefs set in shallow landscapes, framed by the fecundity of nature. In this whimsical scene, a satyr and nymph kneel facing one another, each holding a child resembling the other, perhaps a pair of fraternal twins.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Satyr's Family
  • Series/Portfolio: Les Bacchanales
  • Artist: Jean Honoré Fragonard (French, Grasse 1732–1806 Paris)
  • Date: 1763
  • Medium: Etching
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 9 1/4 in. × 12 in. (23.5 × 30.5 cm)
    Plate: 5 11/16 × 8 3/8 in. (14.4 × 21.3 cm)
    Image: 5 1/4 in. × 8 in. (13.3 × 20.3 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1996
  • Object Number: 1996.328.2
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Nymph Astride a Satyr, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Etching
Nymph Astride a Satyr
Jean Honoré Fragonard
1763
Nymph Supported by Two Satyrs, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Etching
Nymph Supported by Two Satyrs
Jean Honoré Fragonard
1763
The Satyrs' Dance, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Etching
The Satyrs' Dance
Jean Honoré Fragonard
1763
Danse de satyres, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Etching, first state
Danse de satyres
Jean Honoré Fragonard
n.d.
The Vision of Saint Jerome, Jean Honoré Fragonard French, Etching, first state
The Vision of Saint Jerome
Jean Honoré Fragonard
Johann Liss
1763–64

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.