Charles-Nicolas Cochin Père et Fils - Bible de Royaumont. Frontispice

Fine old engraving in burin and etching, part of the tradition of the great French biblical illustrations, executed after a composition by Charles-Nicolas Cochin the Father (1688-1754) and engraved by Charles-Nicolas Cochin the Son (1715-1790), according to the labels at the bottom of the print.

This composition, associated with the famous Royaumont Bible, represents Moses addressing God, in the episode of his divine vocation: “Lord, send the one you must send” (Exodus, 4:13).

At the center of the scene, Moses, standing on a platform, raises his hand toward a heavenly light springing from a sky heavy with clouds. Around him, several figures witness the divine manifestation, while a musician and the Tablets of the Law enrich the symbolic dimension of the composition. In the background, a monumental architecture and a large crowd unfold.

The engraving is distinguished by the finesse of its execution, the richness of the cross-hatching, the intensity of the chiaroscuro, and the spectacular treatment of the clouds. Mastery of volumes, drapery, and perspective testify to the refinement of eighteenth-century French engraving.

The inscriptions engraved in the lower margin allow tying the work to the Cochin family, an important dynasty of French draughtsmen and engravers.

Dark wooden framing with a light matting and a double filet. Shipped without protective glass (risk of breakage)

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