Hello, I've recently acquired a print (which appears to be old) and on
the bottom of the print it says:

"Preat (We think this is the first word) Gouache par Baudin" ? on the
bottom left side
Grave par L.J. Masquelier ? on the bottom right side

The writing on the print is very small and hard to read.  Anyway the
print is of a woman with a book in her lap and she's also holding a
pink rose.   She is sitting on a bench. Can anyone give me any
information about this print? Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 04 Apr 2004 23:47 PDT

Howdy sklatt-ga,

Please check the image here and see if it is the print that you own.
http://www.movietarget.com/masquelier.jpg

I realize it is ridiculously small, but it is the best image I could
find of what I think is your print.

If it is indeed your print, please tell me, and I will then be able to post
a bit more information on the print, more on the artist, it's possible worth
(don't go out and buy anything expensive) of it, etc.  Thanks!

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by sklatt-ga on 05 Apr 2004 01:38 PDT

Hello, yes that's the print! Thanks for your help!

Howdy sklatt-ga,

Glad we could find your print.

The following Cartography Associates web page gives us more information on
your print.  I have summarized the information in a clearer format below,
but you should look at the page for a few more details.
http://www.davidrumsey.com/amico/amico174300-25113.html

"Jusques dans la Moindre Chose" - 1774
Louis Joseph Masquelier, 1741-1811, French
After Pierre Antoine Baudouin, 1723-1769, French
Print, etching and line-engraving on paper

A rough (very rough, as my French skills have all wasted away) meaning of
the title is "Even in the slightest thing."  There was a musical piece by
this same name that dates to 1767, but this might be coincidence.

The wording on your print is probably "Peint Gouache par Baudouin" and then
"Grave par L.J. Masquelier," which means "Painted [in] Gouache by Baudouin"
and "Print by L.J. Masquelier."

But, note the "After Pierre Antoine Baudouin" above, which means the image
was probably based on a painting by Baudouin.  There is even a possibility
that the print you have was done "after" a Masquelier print, in other words,
by someone other than Masquelier.

Louis Joseph Masquelier (L.J.) Masquelier has been described as a "master
printer."  From the examples of his etchings that I have seen on the web,
he was a pretty good engraver as well.  From the Brazos Project web site.
http://www.brazosprojects.org/wicar.htm

"These were then copied by Europe?s leading engravers, and published by
Parisian master printer, L. J. Masquelier."

Pierre Antoine Baudouin was mainly a painter, and at times, worked in
"intimate" and sometimes "risque" subject matters.  This artnet.com
article describes the sale of one his pieces.
http://www.artnet.com/magazine_pre2000/news/jeromack/jeromack6-2-99.asp

"Also of a certain appeal was a memorable gouache by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin,
'Le Curieux' ..."

Gouache, which we see in reference to your your print and the painting above,
is painting with a watercolor/gum mixture to get an opaque result.

Examples of etchings by Masquelier go for $165.00-$175.00, at least when the
subject matter is landscapes.  From the Philographikon - Galerie Rauhut -
Antique Prints and Rare Maps web site.
http://www.raremaps.de/printsschweiz.html

"Ire. Vue De La ville De Fribourg
Prise sous la Porte exterieure, vis-à-vis le Pont de la Sarine.
Copper etching by J. Masquelier after Pérignon from 'Vue Pittoresque de la
Suisse', ca 1790.
14.7 x 22.5 cm ( 5.8 x 8.8 ")
$175.00
...
IIme. Vue D'Une Parthie De La Ville De Fribourg
Copper etching by J. Masquelier after Pérignon from 'Vue Pittoresque de la
Suisse', ca 1790.
15 x 22.4 cm ( 5.9 x 8.8 ")
$165.00"

Perhaps the people at the above referenced David Rumsey organization can give
you some feedback as to actual worth of your print.
http://www.davidrumsey.com/

"If you have comments, suggestions, or need help, contact the David Rumsey
Map Collection:"  Their email address is: rumsey@luna-img.com

Here are some links to a few more of Masquelier's works, both on the web
site of the National Library of Australia.  They appear to have technical
problems at times, so you might have to try going to the following more
than once in order to view the images.

Tombeaux de la Baie de Castries [picture] / dessine par Duche
de Vancy; grave par Masquelier. 
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an10001970

Vues du Golfe de la Louisiade et du cul-de-sac de l'Orangerie
pendant un orage, voyage de Bougainville dans la mer Pacifique
en 1768 [picture] / Q. del.: L.J. Masquelier. 
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an9058516

If you need any clarification, feel free to ask.


Search Strategy:  Personal knowledge as a former Art History major.

Google search on: "grave par Masquelier"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22grave+par+Masquelier%22

Google search on: "Louis Joseph Masquelier"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Louis+Joseph+Masquelier%22

Google search on: "Pierre Antoine Baudouin"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Pierre Antoine Baudouin%22

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Wow!  This was extremely helpful and very thorough!  Thanks so much!

Much thanks for the 5 stars, kind comments and generous tip, sklatt-ga.

Apologies, as well, as the third link should be as follows:

Google search on: "Pierre Antoine Baudouin"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Pierre+Antoine+Baudouin%22

You have a print that I would be proud to own.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher