Olivier de Serres

The print Olivier de Serres was executed by Jean François Millet (French, 1814-1875) in 1858, following an earlier, likely original composition by Daniel de Serres (French, 1539-1619). Classified as a print, this reproduction is technically a lithograph produced on delicate gray China paper, which was subsequently laid down onto a more substantial ivory wove paper backing for stability. The image was printed by the distinguished Parisian firm Lemercier et Compagnie, a major contributor to the widespread dissemination of fine art through commercial prints in France during the mid-19th century.

Millet’s decision to reproduce the portrait of Olivier de Serres, a pioneering 16th-century French agronomist and author of Théâtre d’agriculture, speaks to the continued reverence for historical figures in 19th-century French culture. Though primarily famous for his evocative paintings of peasant life, Millet occasionally undertook printmaking projects to translate older compositions. This work exemplifies the collaborative nature of the French graphic arts scene, where artists like Millet interpreted historical subjects into the accessible format of lithographic prints. The technique allowed Millet to interpret the original subject with characteristic depth and texture, ensuring its survival and accessibility.

This refined example of 19th-century printmaking highlights the productive intersection of historical portraiture and lithographic technology. As a significant document of artistic reproduction in France, the work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. This piece, which often enters the public domain for research use, preserves both the image of a major French intellectual and the technical skill of the era's leading printers.