Gilles Demarteau 1722-1776 after François Boucher 1703-1770. French School 18th.Century Crayon Manner Engraving. Marie-Louise O'Murphy. Printed in sanguine on laid paper Numbered and signed in the plate. Plate 46 in the catalogue published by Demarteau's nephew in 1788. Dedicated to Monsieur Bergeret Receveur General Des Finances. Trimmed to/on upper and lower margins. Two short taped 1cm. tears to upper edge. Slight surface grubbiness and old mount staining. 37.7 by 28.5 cms sheet. Provenance: Nicolas-Auguste Hazard 1834-1913. (Collection Stamp to reverse L.1975) His sale Paris 1919. RARE.
Marie-Louise O'Murphy 1737–1814 was one of the lesser mistresses (petites maîtresses) of King Louis XV of France. Daughter of Daniel Murphy de Boisfailly, a shoemaker who had served in the French army, and his wife, Margaret Hickey. She modelled for François Boucher for the famous nude portrait in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich. Mentioned extensively in Casanova's Memoirs she became mistress of Louis XV in 1753 and bore him a daughter in 1755.