Bernard Lepicié

Bernard Lepicié was an active printmaker and engraver whose documented career spanned the years 1698 to 1744. A significant corpus of his work, comprising fifteen documented Bernard Lepicié prints, is preserved in institutional holdings, establishing his position within the history of 18th-century graphic arts.

His prints are prominently represented in collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lepicié’s output encompassed religious subjects, allegorical studies, and popular genre scenes, demonstrating the typical range of commissions available to engravers of the period.

Key figurative works represented in collections include the intimate genre scene Luncheon, the complex multi-figure composition Saint John the Baptist preaching to a crowd, and the allegorical print Cupid teaching (L'Amour-Précepteur). He also created the popular character study The Coquettish Widow.

The preservation of Lepicié’s originals in major institutions ensures their lasting study and appreciation. Many of these historical plates are considered to be in the public domain, allowing contemporary access to museum-quality, high-quality prints derived from his original engravings.