Charles-Melchior Descourtis; Nicolas Antoine Taunay
The artistic collaboration between Charles-Melchior Descourtis and Nicolas Antoine Taunay centers on their output of prints produced during the period spanning 1753 to 1788. Their joint activity is documented through a collection of fifteen prints held in major institutional collections, establishing their presence in late eighteenth-century graphic arts.
Their surviving works focus on genre scenes and narrative depictions. Notable titles represented in museum collections include La Rixe (The Brawl), Le Tambourin, and multiple editions of Noce de Village (Village Wedding). The repetition of the latter title suggests the enduring popularity of these scenes, often rendered in detailed, high-quality prints characteristic of the period's reproductive techniques.
Fifteen of these Charles-Melchior Descourtis; Nicolas Antoine Taunay prints are preserved in museum collections, confirming the historical importance and technical caliber of their partnership. The National Gallery of Art holds examples of their work. Today, these historical compositions are frequently accessed as museum-quality reproductions, representing key documentation of late eighteenth-century printmaking.