Charles Melchior Descourtis. 1753 - 1820.
Paul et Virginie, a pastoral novel by Jacque-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (January 19, 1737 - January 21, 1814), was published in 1788. Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre was a French writer and botanist, best known for his 1787 novel Paul et Virginie. It treats the tragic love between two children on the Island of Mauritius. An English translation is available online at: Paul et Virginie.
Jean-Frédéric Schall (1752 - 1825) created a set of six designs to illustrate this book for the 1797 edition. These aquatints were engraved in color by Charles Melchior Descourtis (1753 - 1820).
Descourtis was a pupil of Jean-François Janinet and, like him, specialized in the production of colour prints using aquatint and wash-manner. From the later 1790s he engraved numerous works after Jean-Frédéric Schall, notably the series of illustrations to Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s novel Paul et Virginie (1788).
The image of each of the color aquatints is approximately 12 1/2 x 16 inches. Each plate is approximately 16 1/4 x 19. The margins are trimmed closely outside the platemark. Color is bright.
The complete set of 6 images is scarce. $8,500 for the set.
For images of the full sheets, please click on the images.
Plate 1. Virginie intercedes for a runaway slave.
Plate 2. Dominique finds Paul and Virginie lost in the forest.
Plate 3. The visit of the governor, M. de la Bourdonnias.
Plate 4. The Eve of Virginie's Departure for France.
Plate 5. The Death of Virginie.
Plate 6. Paul Praying at Virginie's Grave.