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The scene portrays a rustic setting with a structure in a natural landscape. The horizon is obscured by foliage and an arch. The artwork displays detailed line work capturing textures of leaves, stone, and feathers. The color scheme is primarily sepia or dark brown. Stones and an old structure are prominent, with birds present. The sky is subtly rendered with flying birds. Trees and foliage frame the composition.
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The scene portrays a rustic setting with a structure in a natural landscape. The horizon is obscured by foliage and an arch. The artwork displays detailed line work capturing textures of leaves, stone, and feathers. The color scheme is primarily sepia or dark brown. Stones and an old structure are prominent, with birds present. The sky is subtly rendered with flying birds. Trees and foliage frame the composition.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Abreuvoir d'oiseaux (The Birds' Watering Place)

Quentin-Pierre Chedel after François Boucher

Date
1754
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 33.8 x 29.6 cm (13 5/16 x 11 5/8 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1995.80.1
Credit line
Gift of Carole Slatkin
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • etching
  • detail and ornament
  • architecture
  • bird
  • animal
Provenance

Carole Slatkin; gift to NGA, 1995.

Inscription

lower right in plate: CHEDEL sc.; lower center in plate: ABREUVOIR D'OISEAUX.; lower left in plate: A Paris, rue St. André des Arts,; lowe right in plate: en face de la rue Gille Coeur.

NGA object ID 82881. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.