The history of the painting chocolate girl Jean Etienne Lyotard. Jean-Étienne Lyotard and his beautiful chocolate girl
Picture of a Chocolate Girl Dresden gallery attracts with its photographic accuracy, clarity of lines and minimalism. The Swiss painter Jean-Étienne Lyotard masterfully worked in the pastel technique and in viennese period creativity 1743-1745 created his best work. Venetian painters spoke of the painting as the pinnacle of craftsmanship: "the most beautiful pastel you could ever see."
The portrait of a cute girl serving hot chocolate is created on parchment - treated leather. The painting has medium dimensions: 82.5 cm x 52.5 cm. And although it is located among other canvases, it invariably attracts attention.
How Chocolate Lyotara ended up in Germany
The remarkable work of J.E. Lyotard was delivered to the Saxon elector Augustus III Italian writer and art critic Francesco Algarotti.
Count Algarotti appeared at the Saxon court in 1742. He examined all works of art, which made up the royal collection, which won undeniable authority. Because Augustus III was an active collector artistic masterpieces, in 1743, on his behalf, Algarotti went to Italy to replenish the collection with worthy novelties from famous artists.
For about four years, the art critic carried out the mission assigned to him and delivered 34 paintings to Dresden, among which was Lyotard's Das Schokoladenmädchen.
About the author of the painting Chocolate Girl
Jean Etienne Lyotard is a Swiss artist. Why is it best picture“The Beautiful Chocolate Girl” was written in Vienna, and came to the gallery of the Saxon elector from Italy? And the reason is simple. Lyotard began his creative activity in Geneva, but at the age of 32 he went on a long journey to the southeast. At first it was Italy, Greece and Constantinople.
Then the artist ended up in Vienna, where he won the favor of Maria Theresa and worked at the court of the Austrian Empress. It was there that he painted a portrait of a young lady holding a tray of refreshments. When Lyotard again moved to Venice, his interests intersected with Count Algarotti, who acquired the painting for.
Who is in the picture
Until now, it has not been established for certain who posed for the artist when creating the portrait.
There are several versions suggesting that the young beauty could serve at the Viennese court. It is possible that the artist living in Vienna at that time depicted a sweet girl whom he had seen more than once at work.
Some researchers are inclined to the idea that the daughter of a Viennese coachman, who worked as a maid, became the model of the Chocolate Girl. But not every maid is honored by artists with a portrait ... This is followed by romantic story about how Prince Dietrichstein saw the maid Anna and fell in love with a simple girl. And when she married him, he turned to Jean Liotard with a request to write the image that conquered the prince.
Jean-Etienne Lyotard. Chocolate girl, 1745. Fragment | Photo: artchive.ru
Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Lyotard is considered one of the most enigmatic painters XVIII century. Legends about his travels and adventures have come down to our days no less than exciting stories about his paintings. most famous work Lyotara is undoubtedly the "Chocolate Girl". Associated with this picture interesting legend: according to the testimony of the artist's contemporaries, here he portrayed a waitress who married the prince, to whom she once served chocolate in a cafe. But about the character and moral character This person has very conflicting evidence ...
Jean-Etienne Lyotard. Self-portrait (Lyotar Laughing), 1770. Fragment | Photo: artchive.ru
In Lyotard's painting "Chocolate Girl" we see a modest girl who humbly lowered her eyes, probably in front of a visitor to a coffee shop, to whom she is in a hurry to serve hot chocolate. According to one version, which for a long time was generally accepted, the artist depicted in this picture Anna Baltauf, a well-bred representative of an impoverished noble family. One day in 1745, Prince Dietrichstein, an Austrian aristocrat, a descendant of the richest ancient family went to a Viennese coffee shop to try a newfangled chocolate drink. He was so subdued modest charm a sweet girl who decided to marry her, despite the protests of his family.
Jean-Etienne Lyotard. Chocolate girl, 1745 | Photo: artchive.ru
Wanting to present to his bride unusual gift, the prince allegedly ordered her portrait to the artist Lyotard. However, this was unusual portrait- the prince asked to portray the girl in the image in which he met her and fell in love at first sight. According to another version, the artist depicted in the picture the chambermaid of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who struck him with her beauty.
Jean-Etienne Lyotard. Self-portraits 1768 and 1773 | Photo: liveinternet.ru and artchive.ru
Skeptics argue that in fact everything was much less romantic than in beautiful legend. And even Anna was not Anna, but the simple Nandl Balthauf, who came not from a noble family, but from ordinary family- all her ancestors were servants, and women achieved the blessings of life by often providing special services in the master's beds. It was precisely for such a fate that the girl was prepared by her mother, who insisted that in another way her daughter could not achieve either money or happiness.
Jean-Etienne Lyotard. Chocolate lady. Fragment | Photo: artchive.ru
According to this version, the prince first saw the girl not in a cafe, but serving in the house of one of his acquaintances. Nandl tried to catch his eye more often and in every possible way tried to attract attention to herself. The plan succeeded, and the smart maid soon became the mistress of the aristocrat. However, she was not satisfied with the role of "one of", and she ensured that the prince began to introduce her to his guests and stopped meeting with other mistresses.
*Chocolate Girl* Lyotara in the Dresden Gallery | Photo: livemaster.ru
And soon the world was shocked by the news: Prince Dietrichstein was marrying a maid! He really ordered a portrait of the bride to Lyotard, and when he told him about his chosen one, the artist said: “Such women always achieve what they want. And when she succeeds, you will have nowhere to run. The prince was surprised and asked what Lyotard meant, and he replied: “There is a time for everything. There will come a time when you yourself will understand this. I fear, however, that it will be too late. But, apparently, the prince did not understand anything: until the end of his days, he lived with his chosen one and died, bequeathing to her all his fortune. Not a single woman was able to approach him anymore. And the wife in her declining years managed to achieve honor and recognition in the world.
*Chocolate Girl* – one of the most replicated works of the 18th century | Photo: fb.ru
Since 1765, the “Chocolate Girl” has been in the Dresden Gallery, and during World War II, the Nazis took this picture, along with other exhibits of the gallery, to the Königstein Castle above the Elbe, where the collection was later discovered Soviet troops. By what miracle the precious collection was preserved there, despite the cold and dampness of the cellars, art historians are still surprised.
One of the oldest US trademarks | Photo: fb.ru and itom.dk
The identity of the model in the portrait has not yet been accurately identified, but Lyotard's "Chocolate Girl" seems to fascinate everyone who comes to the Dresden Gallery, and is considered one of her best masterpieces. It is noteworthy that "Shokoladnitsa" became one of the first trademarks in the history of marketing. It is still used as a logo by a chain of coffee houses.
The Swiss artist Jean Etienne Lyotard, whose "Chocolate Girl" is the pearl of the collection of the Dresden Art Gallery, for his long and happy life(1702-1789) created about 400 works. “Holbein pastels” (as colleagues called Lyotard, thereby recognizing his unconditional talent) did not write bad works, but the canvas named at the beginning of the article became a masterpiece of world painting.
Photographic Image Accuracy
What does Holbein pastels mean? The works of the greatest German artist The younger ones are famous for their portrait resemblance and jewelry elaboration of drawings. But he painted in oils, and pastels glorified Lyotard. "Chocolate" - the most famous painting done in this manner. All paintings by the Swiss artist are distinguished by photographic accuracy, the smallest development of every detail. One of the art critics compared Lyotard with the ancient Greek artist Zeuxis, famous topics that, wanting to prove his superiority over the master of realism Parrhasius, he painted such a grape, on which birds immediately flocked to peck it.
Perfect and fragile
Lyotard was the same virtuoso. According to this art critic (M. Alpatov), “Chocolate Girl” refers to those masterpieces in which there is a wonderful optical illusion. A lot has been written about this work, including because it was done in a manner that is much rarer than watercolor, engraving, and even more so. oil painting. Artists resorted to pastel less often because of its fragility and susceptibility to destruction during the smallest careless movements, because very few binders were added to the original material - paste (therefore "pastel"). Hence the timeless freshness of colors on canvases made in this manner (materials added to oil paints, darken). And pastel works crumble and collapse during transportation. Over time, the authors of such paintings came to the conclusion that they are best preserved under glass, based on a passe-partout - a cardboard edging of the canvas on which the work was done. In this case, the glass does not touch the pattern. But these fragile works are distinguished by a bewitching radiance, velvety and specific softness.
Free, imposing, mysterious ...
It was in this manner that Lyotard wrote. “Chocolate Girl” is the most famous and best, according to many experts, pastel work, although the artist himself did not distinguish it from everything previously created. Talented and lucky, he was known as a master who painted royalty and beauties. Jean Etienne was wealthy and could only afford to do what he loved - painting and traveling. Lyotard was absolutely free both in life, despite the presence of five children, and in creativity. He was extravagant and mysterious, he was patronized by the royal houses of Europe.
Mysterious Model
According to one version, beautiful girl, depicted in the picture, is Anna Baldauf, the daughter of an impoverished knight. Noble origin allowed her to be a maid at the court of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. There, the artist noticed her beauty and grace. According to another, more romantic version, Prince Dietrichstein, visiting was captivated by the beauty of the waitress at first sight. He married her, against the will of the family, and for the wedding he gave his Cinderella her portrait in the outfit in which he saw Anna for the first time. The gift was royal, since Lyotard was a court painter, and his work was very expensive. There are other versions about the posing model.
Charming simplicity
The picture is captivating, it fascinates, despite the fact that its plot is more than simple. After the artsy paintings, say, by the same Watteau, which depicted coquettish ladies and gentlemen, the lonely figure of a girl carrying a tray along a white wall looked unexpectedly simple, natural and charming. The canvas measuring 82.5 x 52.5 is made on parchment with pastels, which the artist Lyotard was fluent in. “Chocolate Girl”, written in striking filigree accuracy of objects - the girl just got the apron from the chest of drawers, the slightest wrinkle is visible on it, the chocolate giver herself seems to be breathing, and the chocolate smells.
Visual aid in physics
Everything is charming in the chocolate maker - a small leg, a straight back, but not tense, the girl is not exhausted by thinness, but slender. The costume is wonderfully written, the colors are wonderfully chosen. And after all, one must take into account that only a white wall serves as a background - no bust or tubs of flowers for you. But connoisseurs of painting from the moment the painting appeared to the present day are especially delighted with a lacquered Chinese tray in the hands of a girl, on which there is a glass of water and cups of chocolate. The picture is also valuable because it depicts for the first time the famous man who has his long and wonderful story. But a glass filled with water is written out in such a way that, according to experts, it clearly demonstrates on the border of two transparent media (Snell's law). This is one of the best praises deserved by J. E. Lyotard. "Chocolate Girl" is not considered a portrait, but a genre scene.
Oldest US trademark
From the moment of writing, fate favors this work - it is very replicated and incredibly popular, including today. Not everyone can boast of this. work XVIII century. What's the matter here? Since 1765, the canvas has been in the Dresden art gallery, and 120 years later I saw it when visiting famous museum the owner of the oldest American concern Bakers Chocolate, which was engaged in the production of this product. Henry L. Pierce was fascinated by what Jean Lyotard painted. "Shokoladnitsa" becomes the trademark of the company. La Belle Chocolatiere ("Beautiful Chocolate Girl") - the logo, approved two years later, went down in history as the first and oldest trademark in the United States and one of the oldest in the world.
A wide and unsurpassed gesture of the USSR
In the Soviet Union, this painting became especially popular when, in 1955, the paintings received by the country in the form of war trophies were returned to the Dresden Gallery by the will of N. S. Khrushchev.
Most refurbished by the best Soviet masters masterpieces before being sent were exhibited from May 2 to August 20, and people from all over the vast country were in a hurry to say goodbye to the paintings, among which were famous painting, which was created by Jean Etienne Lyotard - "Chocolate Girl".
Swiss artist J.-E. Lyotard was called "the painter of kings and beautiful women". Everything in his life was made up of happy accidents and circumstances that talented artist, gifted to the same practical mind, skillfully took advantage.
J.-E. Lyotard. Self-portrait in Turkish costume. Pastel.
At one time, the family of J.-E. Lyotara was forced to emigrate from France to Geneva. Future artist at one time he studied in Paris with the engraver and miniaturist Masse. Then in the life of J.-E. Liotard began years of wandering, during which he visited many cities and countries. He traveled as a companion of noble people, as many artists of the 18th century often had to do.
Travel gave J.-E. Lyotard is a diverse material for observations and has accustomed him to almost documentary accuracy of sketches. For portraits J.-E. Lyotard is characterized by exceptional accuracy in the reproduction of the model, and this is precisely what the artist gained European fame for himself and acquired high patrons. He met with a warm welcome from the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna, and from the Pope in Rome, and from Turkish Sultan in Constantinople. Everyone liked the portraits of J.-E. Lyotard is the similarity of faces, the completeness in the image of the materials of clothing and jewelry, and the colorfulness of his canvases.
The portrait of the beautiful Anna Baldauf (Anna Baltauf), world-famous under the name "Chocolate Girl" (French "La belle chocoladiere") and countless times copied and engraved (located in the Dresden Gallery) was written in Vienna.
Most likely, Anna was a servant at the court of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, where the painter noticed the girl. Anna, the daughter of an impoverished knight, served as a maid at court.
They say that it was there that the young Prince Dietrichstein noticed her beauty.
He fell in love and - to the dismay of the aristocracy - married her.
As wedding gift Prince Dietrichstein ordered Jean Etienne Lyotard, who was working at the Viennese court at that time, a portrait of his bride in the very clothes in which he first saw her.
They say that on the day of the wedding, the bride invited friends of the chocolate makers and, being happy with her elevation, gave them her hand with the words: "Here! Now I have become a princess, and you can kiss my hand."
This picture is also notable for the fact that it was the first to depict the first porcelain in Europe - Meissen
Now this painting is in Dresden art gallery, but initially it was bought by the Venetian Count Algarotti, a connoisseur and lover of painting. In one of his letters, he said: "I bought the famous Lyotard pastel. It is executed in imperceptible degradations of light and with excellent relief. The transferred nature is not changed at all; being a European work, the pastel is executed in the spirit of the Chinese ... sworn enemies of the shadow. Well As for the finished work, it can be said in one word: this is a pastel Holbein, depicting a young German maid in profile, carrying a tray with a glass of water and a cup of chocolate.
Indeed, the picture shows only one female figure.
But she is depicted in a way that captivates most viewers who visit famous gallery in Dresden. J.-E. Lyotard managed to give the picture the character of a genre scene. There is free space in front of the "Chocolate Girl", so the impression is that the model does not seem to be posing for the artist, but passes in front of the viewer with small steps, carefully and carefully carrying a tray.
The eyes of the "Chocolate Girl" are modestly lowered, but the awareness of her attractiveness illuminates her entire tender and sweet face. Her posture, the position of her head and hands - everything is full of the most natural grace. Her small foot in a gray high-heeled shoe peeks out modestly from under her skirt.
The colors of the "Chocolate Girl" clothes were chosen by J.-E. Liotard in soft harmony: a silver-gray skirt, a golden bodice, a shining white apron, a transparent white scarf and a fresh silk cap - pink and delicate, like a rose petal ... The artist, with his inherent precision, does not deviate a single line from the most detailed reproduction of the form body "Chocolate Girl" and her clothes. So, for example, the dense silk of her dress is quite realistic; the folds of the apron, which had just been taken out of the linen drawer, had not yet straightened out; the glass of water reflects the window, and it reflects the line of the top edge of the small tray.
The painting "Chocolate Girl" is distinguished by its completeness in every detail, which J.-E. Lyotard. Art historian M. Alpatov believes that "because of all these features, "Chocolate Girl" can be attributed to the wonders of optical illusion in art, like those bunches of grapes in the picture of the famous ancient Greek artist who tried to peck sparrows." After the conventionality and mannerisms of some masters of the 18th century, the almost photographic accuracy of the painting by J.-E. Lyotara gave the impression of a revelation.
The artist worked exclusively in the pastel technique, which was very common in the 18th century, and mastered it to perfection. But J.-E. Lyotard was not only virtuoso master this technique, but also its convinced theoretician. He believed that it was pastel that most naturally conveys color and the subtlest transitions of chiaroscuro within light colorful tones. The very task of showing a figure in a white apron against a white wall is a difficult pictorial task, but J.-E. Lyotara in a combination of a gray-gray and white apron with pale-gray shades and a steely shade of water is a real poetry of colors. In addition, using thin transparent shadows in "Chocolate Girl", he achieved the perfect accuracy of the drawing, as well as the maximum convexity and definiteness of volumes.
based on Wikipedia and the story of N.A. Ionina, publishing house "Veche", 2002
Everyone who has ever been to the Dresden Art Gallery will definitely remember two paintings: “ Sistine Madonna» Raphael and a small pastel. Why did we suddenly think of the painting while talking about chocolate? Because the picture is called "Chocolate Girl" and it has its own legends and history.
Before us is a young charming girl in a white apron and cap, as they were worn in the 18th century, with a tray in their hands. On the tray is a glass of water and a cup of steaming chocolate, which is how they drank a popular drink in Europe at that time. They didn't even know about solid chocolate back then.
The artist worked out all the details so carefully that the portrait seems to be a living photograph. A slight blush on the girl's cheeks, a languid look. A window is reflected in a transparent glass of water. In an elegant white mug you can recognize the newly invented Meissen porcelain. The color scheme is very simple, restrained, but warm and gentle.
With whom Lyotard wrote "Chocolate Girl" is not exactly known. But in each of the versions of the creation of the picture there is a love story for a woman and for chocolate.
The Legend of the Beautiful Chocolate Girl
According to one version, the Austrian prince Dietrichstein went to a coffee shop to try chocolate, which went crazy all over Europe. His waitress was the daughter of an impoverished nobleman, Anna Baltauf. Dietrichstein was captivated by both the taste of the drink and the beauty of the girl.
Of course, the noble family did not share the heir's hobbies. But this beautiful story had love happy ending, and Anna and the prince got married. And the gift to his wife for the wedding was her portrait in the form in which her future husband first saw her.
A touching love story at first sight between a chocolate Cinderella and a rich heir could not leave anyone indifferent.
And when, in 1862, the president of the American chocolate company, Henry L. Pierce, saw the picture, he immediately bought the rights to use the image.
The beautiful "Chocolate Girl" has become a symbol of the "Baker's Chocolate" trademark. This was perhaps the first acquisition of image rights in the history of the business for such a purpose.
Since 1765, the painting was kept in the Dresden Gallery, but disappeared during the Second World War. And it was found by Soviet troops in the Kenigshtein fortress.
Now the original painting is in Germany, in the Dresden Gallery, and its copy is in the Baker Chocolate Company Museum in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Video "Chocolate Girl, Jean Etienne Lyotard - review of the picture"
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