Page:Charles Sedelmayer - Catalog of 100 paintings - illustratedcata04gallgoog.djvu/254

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WATTEAU (Antoine)

(1684-1721)

84. — « L'Ile de Cythère »

On the right of the composition a group of eleven young people, each holding a pilgrim's staff, are waiting to embark in a richly decorated boat on the left, guided by Cupids. A young man accompanied by his mistress, seen from behind in the centre of the foreground, is apparently giving orders for the embarkation. Two Cupids with blazing torches are hovering in the air above, and a number of others are seen in the distance gambolling on a terrace with a balustrade, to which leads a flight of stairs.

Canvas, 17 3/4 in. by 21 3/4 in.

Engraved by Larmessin when in the Collection of M. de Julienne, Paris.

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