Portret van Agnese Dolci als muze van de poëzie - Noël ainé & Cie.

A 1826 lithograph by Noël ainé & Cie. depicting Agnese Dolci as the Muse of Poetry, based on a composition by Achille Devéria.

This lithograph, produced by the Parisian firm Noël ainé & Cie. in 1826, depicts Agnese Dolci, the daughter of the Italian Baroque painter Carlo Dolci, in the guise of the Muse of Poetry. The print is based on an original composition by the artist Achille Devéria, whose signature appears in the lower margin alongside the attribution to Carlo Dolci. The work reflects the nineteenth-century fascination with historical figures and the romanticisation of the artist's life.

The subject is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a laurel wreath, a traditional symbol of poetic achievement. Her expression is contemplative, and her attire includes decorative elements that suggest a period-appropriate costume. The lithographic process allows for a soft, tonal rendering of the subject, particularly in the shading of the background and the delicate modelling of the face. The surrounding text, including the title 'La Fille de Carlo Dolci (La Poésie)', identifies the subject and the thematic intent of the image. The print also features handwritten annotations in the upper margin, which are characteristic of archival copies from the period.

As a product of the early nineteenth-century French print market, this work demonstrates the technical capabilities of lithography in reproducing fine art compositions for a wider audience. The composition maintains a balance between the classical subject matter and the stylistic preferences of the Romantic era. The inclusion of the original painter's name, 'Carlo Dolci pinxt', serves to authenticate the source material while acknowledging the collaborative nature of the printmaking process. This piece offers a glimpse into the historical dissemination of art through reproductive print media, providing a clear example of how classical themes were reinterpreted for the nineteenth-century viewer.