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Snuffbox with theatrical scenes of a rope dancer and a puppet show

Discover Joseph-Étienne Blerzy: Parisian goldsmith (1735) famed for opulent snuff boxes & enamel miniatures. Explore his royal gifts & legacy of luxury artistry.

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Total Price

$ 413

reproduction

Snuffbox with theatrical scenes of a rope dancer and a puppet show

Reproduction Medium

Reproduction Size

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Total Price

$ 413

Artwork Description

The box bears four marks, among them the Paris mark for 1778–79, and the mark of Joseph-Étienne Blérzym a master in 1768, working to 1806. The sides and chamfered corners are decorated with plaques of translucent opalescent enamel resembling moss agate with delicate branches in silhouette. Judging by the costumes, the miniatures, this one and that on the lid, A Rope Dance, are contemporaneous. Neither is signed, but the style is typical of the Van Blarenberghes in the late 1770s, the date of the box.Seated to the left are a hunchbacked violinist and a cellist, while to the right, a family group, an elegant couple with small children, enters through a drawn-back curtain. The hall is hung with brightly painted curtains and lit by candles; the audience is seated on plank benches and on risers. A white-faced Pierrot in a traditional costume with a ruff and a hat calls attention to the performance of the marionettes, a dancing Punchinello, also in white but with a colorful plumed hat, and a female figure from whose skirt a tiny clown emerges to join his fellow acrobats.In late eighteenth-century paris, on the boulevard du Temple, there were theaters offering spectacles of various kinds involving actors, marionettes, tightrope walkers, jugglers, and animal acts. The most famous of these was presided over by Jean-Baptiste Nicolet, who was an actor and acrobat and the son of a puppet master. Nicolet"s company and others competed with the Comédie Italienne. This vignette shows what such a place of entertainment must have looked like.

Artist Biography

early life and apprenticeship

joseph etienne blerzy, a french goldsmith born in paris in 1735, was apprenticed to françois-joachim aubert, a renowned goldsmith specializing in mounting precious stones. this formative training laid the foundation for blerzy's future success.

artistic prowess and notable works

blerzy is celebrated for his exquisite snuff boxes crafted from gold and enamel, often adorned with pearls and miniature paintings. these intricate masterpieces not only showcased his technical skill but also reflected the opulence of 18th-century european luxury goods.
  • snuffbox with grisaille miniature of scene from don quixote (enamel, circa 8 x 6 cm), a testament to blerzy's attention to detail and narrative artistry, can be found on ArtsDot.
  • other notable works, such as those featuring portrait miniatures, were frequently given as royal gifts to ambassadors or members of the court, highlighting blerzy's influence in european aristocracy.

museums and collections featuring blerzy's work

while blerzy's pieces are scattered across various private collections, some of his notable works can be found in musée maurice denis (saint-germain-en-laye, france), which also features an impressive collection of french post-impressionism paintings. for a deeper dive into blerzy's art and the museum, visit ArtsDot's musée maurice denis page.

legacy and influence

blerzy's passing in paris in 1821 marked the end of an era, but his legacy lives on through his stunning gold and enamel creations. as a master goldsmith, he not only contributed to the luxury goods scene but also influenced future generations with his meticulous craftsmanship. key points:
  • joseph-etienne blerzy: a french goldsmith born in paris in 1735.
  • apprenticed to françois-joachim aubert, specializing in precious stones.
  • renowned for ornate snuff boxes with pearls and miniature paintings.
  • notable works include royal gifts to european aristocracy.
explore more of joseph-etienne blerzy's art on ArtsDot.
joseph etienne blerzy

joseph etienne blerzy

1735 - 1821 , France

Quick Facts

  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Portraiture, Pastel
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Jean-Baptiste Greuze']
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['Maurice Quentin de La Tour']
  • Date Of Birth: June 26, 1735
  • Date Of Death: July 24, 1802
  • Full Name: Joseph, Baron Ducreux
  • Nationality: Lorrainian, French
  • Notable Artworks:
    • Self-Portrait, Yawning
    • Self-Portrait as a Mocker
  • Place Of Birth: Nancy, France
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