Page 5 - Jacques Blanchard - Myth and Allegory

FOREWORD

M y thanks are due to Christopher Wright for his insight into French seventeenth
century painting and for this essay on Blanchard, as well as to Andrea Gates for
her additions to the text, editing and revisions. Christopher and I shared
Courtauld experiences so many years ago and experienced Anthony Blunt’s
inspired indoctrination regarding the merits of Poussin and Claude! The idea for producing a
small volume based on these two elegant and unpublished works by Jacques Blanchard was
catalysed by conversations with Richard Beresford who had many years ago extensively studied
the artist and published the inventories in The Burlington Magazine. His input, suggestions and
kindness in reviewing the text has proved invaluable. So many of Blanchard’s recorded or
engraved works, or cycles of decoration remain unknown at present (or presumed destroyed)
that the re-emergence of two important works within the space of two years leads one to hope
that more may still survive unidentified and awaiting rediscovery.

As always I am indebted to David Chesterman for his light touch in conservation, to Prudence
Cuming Associates for their sumptuous photography, as well as to Romano Binazzi and
Fulvio Gallotti for the invariable care that they dedicate to the production of our catalogues, to
John Davies and Paul Mitchell for advice in framing and to Beverly Brown, Giacomo Algranti
and the Warburg Institute.

PATRICK MATTHIESEN

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