Periwinkle. Vinca Pervinca desecada. Grandville Flower-lady engraving c1902.

by Grandville, Jean-Jacques

Demure flower-lady Vinca or Periwinkle by Jean-Jacques Grandville c1902.

Antique print from original wood engraving by Charles Geoffroy, printed in colour and highlighted with gum arabic, after a drawing by French illustrator and caricaturist Jean-Ignace-Isidore Gérard (1803-1847) for Les Fleurs Animées (Animated Flowers) first published in Paris circa 1847. This engraving was published in Spain c1902.

From an early age Jean-Jacques was tutored in drawing by his father, miniature-artist Jean-Baptiste Gérard. Jean-Jacques adopted the name 'Grandville' from his father’s actor parents who were known as 'Gérard de Grandville'. Flowers were given human characters, that ranged from charming to gruesome, depending on Grandville's state of mind. Grandville acquired fame by adding animal and bird heads to people's bodies, and as here, by portraying flowers as ladies with personalities. His 'animations' were so popular, that they were reissued a number of times in the United States, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

This small engraving is 180 x 120mm (7 x 4.75 inches). It is currently mounted between antique-white boards, and covered with cellophane for protection until framed.The external mount for framing measures 270 x 220mm (10.5/8 x 8.5/8 inches).