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201 GÉRARD DE LAIRESSE
Bacchus Squeezing Grapes intoWine
.
Etching, circa 1680. 418x290 mm; 16
1
/
2
x11
1
/
2
inches, small to narrow margins. A superb,
richly-inked impression with strong contrasts.
Lairesse (1641-1711) was a follower of Rembrandt, later in his career focusing on a more
French-oriented style similar to Nicolas Poussin. Rembrandt painted his portrait around
1665-67, showing him with the saddle-nose deformity that had resulted from hereditary
or congenital syphilis (the portrait is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NewYork).
After Rembrandt’s death, Lairesse’s importance grew both as an artist and as an art theorist;
he composed several highly influential 18th century artists’ manuals. LeBlanc 54.
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