Delafosse epoque louis xvi biography

It is rare indeed to come across drawings for frames; these are some of the most ephemeral of designs, since they are often produced either for a framemaker, to be realized in wood and gilding, or they are passed on to an engraver to be converted to an illustration for a pattern book.

A trio of these elusive drawings recently came up for auction at Drouot in Paris, and they seem worthy of comment.

Jean-Charles Delafosse (1734-89), one of three frame designs for a pattern-book, pen-&-ink & wash, 31.2 x 21 cm, Jean-Marc Delvaux sale, Hôtel Drouot, 16 December 2016, Lot 123

Jean-Charles Delafosse was born in Paris during the flowering of the Rococo, and lived until NeoClassicism was about to devolve into the Directeur style under Napoleon.

His career therefore saw the birth and entire development of the NeoClassical style, from the transitional style of the late 1750s and heavy goût grec of the 1760s to the lighter style (Louis XVI) of the last quarter o