Pierre Charles Lévêque

About the Engraving

This distinguished portrait engraving from 1772 depicts Françoise de Graffigny (1695-1758), one of the most celebrated French women writers of the Enlightenment. The portrait shows de Graffigny in elegant 18th-century attire, capturing the refined bearing and intellectual presence that characterized this pioneering author. The engraving was executed by Pierre Charles Lévêque and exemplifies the portrait engraving tradition that commemorated notable literary and cultural figures of the period.

The work demonstrates the important role that portrait engravings played in preserving and circulating the likenesses of prominent intellectuals during the Enlightenment, when such prints served both documentary and commemorative purposes. The careful attention to facial features, costume details, and the formal composition reflect the conventions of literary portraiture during this period.

About Françoise de Graffigny

Françoise de Graffigny (1695-1758) was a prominent French novelist, playwright, and salonnière of the Enlightenment. Born Françoise d'Issembourg d'Happoncourt into an impoverished noble family in Lorraine, she overcame personal hardships including an abusive marriage to become one of the most successful writers of her generation.

De Graffigny is best known for her epistolary novel "Lettres d'une Péruvienne" (Letters from a Peruvian Woman, 1747), which became an international bestseller and was translated into multiple languages. The novel, which critiques French society through the eyes of a fictional Peruvian princess, was groundbreaking in its feminist perspective and social commentary. She also achieved success as a playwright, with her comedy "Cénie" (1750) enjoying considerable acclaim at the Comédie-Française.

De Graffigny maintained an influential literary salon in Paris and corresponded with many leading intellectuals of her time, including Voltaire. Her letters provide valuable insights into 18th-century literary and social life. She died in Paris in 1758, leaving a significant legacy as one of the most important women writers of the French Enlightenment.

About the Artist

Pierre Charles Lévêque (1736-1812) was a French engraver active during the second half of the 18th century and early 19th century. He specialized in portrait engravings and worked extensively on reproducing portraits of notable figures from French society, including writers, philosophers, magistrates, and members of the aristocracy. His engravings are characterized by precise line work and careful attention to detail, particularly in rendering facial features and period costume.

Technical Details

Engraver: Pierre Charles Lévêque (1736-1812)
Subject: Françoise de Graffigny (1695-1758), French writer
Date: 1772
Medium: Engraving on paper
Condition: Good condition
Dimensions: 37.3 x 25.5 cm / 14 ½ x 10 in (sheet); 27 x 18.5 cm / 10 ½ x 7 ¼ in (plate)
Frame: 43 x 33 cm / 17 x 13 in — New, classic style, acid-free matting and glass
Origin: France