Charles Bervic

About the Engraving

This original engraving by French engraver Charles-Clément Bervic (1756-1822), titled La Demande Acceptée (The Request Granted), is a work of neoclassical art created in the late 1700s. The engraving reproduces a painting by Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié (1735-1784), capturing an intimate 18th-century French domestic scene with exceptional detail.

The composition depicts a marriage proposal: a young man formally asks for a young woman's hand before her seated parents. The rustic interior is animated by multiple figures, including siblings and a dog, with subtle emotional gestures throughout the scene. The fine linework, depth, and light contrast demonstrate Bervic's technical mastery in intaglio engraving using the burin technique.

This print features a beautifully preserved coat of arms cartouche, dedicating the work to Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria (1724-1799), adding aristocratic provenance and historical context. The dedication reflects the practice of 18th-century engravers seeking patronage from European nobility and royalty. The engraving is mounted on cardboard and housed in a gilt wood frame with matting and glass.

About the Artist

Charles-Clément Balvay, known as Bervic (1756-1822), was one of the most important French engravers of the 18th century, celebrated for his exceptional skill with the burin technique. Born in Paris in 1756, Bervic began his training under Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, a prominent painter and engraver known for his Russian scenes and innovative aquatint techniques.

By age 18, Bervic won first prize for drawing at the prestigious Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, demonstrating his early mastery of draftsmanship. He became a full member of the Académie in 1784, a significant achievement that established his professional standing. His career flourished during the transition from the Ancien Régime through the Revolutionary period and into the Napoleonic era.

Bervic is best known for his precise, expressive intaglio engravings reproducing works by masters such as Raphael, Jacques-Louis David, and Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié. His technique was characterized by exceptional clarity, elegant draftsmanship, and meticulous attention to tonal gradation. In 1803, he became a founding member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, cementing his position as one of France's leading engravers.

His works are held in major collections including the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Bervic's engravings are valued for their technical excellence and their historical significance within French Neoclassicism, representing the highest standards of reproductive engraving during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

About Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié

Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié (1735-1784) was a French painter known for his genre scenes depicting everyday life, particularly domestic interiors and family moments. He studied under Carle van Loo and became a member of the Académie royale in 1764. His paintings often featured rustic settings and intimate family scenes, rendered with careful attention to detail and emotional authenticity, making them popular subjects for reproductive engravings.

Technical Details

Engraver: Charles-Clément Balvay, dit Bervic (1756-1822)
After: Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié (1735-1784)
Title: La Demande Acceptée (The Request Granted)
Date: Late 18th century
Medium: Engraving, mounted on cardboard
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions (sheet): 63 x 73.5 cm / 24¾ x 29 in
Dimensions (image): 50 x 62.7 cm / 19¾ x 24½ in
Frame: 76 x 85 cm / 30 x 33½ in, gilt wood with matting and glass
Dedication: Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Origin: France

A refined example of French neoclassical engraving by an Académie des Beaux-Arts founding member.