Jean-François Janinet

La Folie Portalis & Beraldi II.477.26 tool engraving with aquatint, 1777, printed in colors, with registration marks above and below, a superb impression of the second state (of 2) with letters, with good margins, on medium-heavy weight laid paper without a watermark, a few traces of blue ink along the lower margin, some slight overall soiling, mounting tape along the extreme upper margin, otherwise in quite excellent condition Provenance: a private Parisian collection P. 297 x 213 mm. S. 322 x 234 mm.

As a pendant piece to L'Amour, (rendered as an earthbound male putto with quiver and arrows*), Jean-François Janinet (and thus Fragonard!) here sought to render alternatively the foolishness of love as a female putto flitting over two pairs of cooing doves and an arched bed of red roses, his rising flanked by a flight of four doves.  He carries a jester's staff, and sows a handful of bells to disperse the charm.

This print is quite rare, especially in this condition, and in any case we have not seen an impression on auction in almost twenty years. **   It should also be noted that the colors here are exceptionally fresh, notably the blue. ***