Olivier de Serres

Olivier de Serres is a significant print created in 1858 by Jean François Millet (French, 1814-1875) after an original portrait by Daniel de Serres (French, 1539-1619), and printed by the renowned Parisian firm Lemercier et Compagnie. The piece is classified as a print, specifically executed as a lithograph on delicate ivory wove China paper. This complex reproductive process demonstrates Millet’s mastery in translating an earlier work into a reproducible medium, preserving the fine details and subtle tonality inherent to the original composition.

The subject, Olivier de Serres, was a pivotal historical figure in 16th-century France, famed for his pioneering treatise on agriculture, Théâtre d’agriculture et mesnage des champs. By reinterpreting this biographical portrait nearly three hundred years after the subject’s lifetime, Millet participated in a mid-19th-century focus on national heritage and important figures within French history. This lithograph not only serves as a valuable record of a key historical personality but also showcases the high standard of reproductive prints being produced in Paris during the Second Empire.

The availability of such high-quality prints allowed this biographical image to circulate widely, making the work accessible to collectors and the general public. The widespread reproduction of important historical subjects underscores the democratization of art through print media, with many such examples eventually becoming available in the public domain. This notable impression of Olivier de Serres is permanently housed in the esteemed print collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.