Un Charpentier (carpenter)

DateCa. 1720

Artist/Maker Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored black and white line engraving on laid paper

DimensionsO: 14" X 8 1/2"; plate to marks including title: 12" X 7 1/2"; picture alone: 10 3/4" X 7 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,29A

DescriptionUn charpentier is the carpenter. He carries the tools of his trade on his person as follows: 1. (over left shoulder) piece de bois (wood board); 2. (round neck) compas (compass); 3. (around neck) le pie (measure); 4. (over right shoulder) grosse sie (saw); 5. (under right arm) planche (plank); 6. (over left shoulder) gros rabot a deux (two large planes); 7. (over left shoulder) rabot a un (another plane); 8. (hanging from waist) maillet (mallot); 9. (from waist) hache pioche (pick axe); 10. (from waist) petit sie (little saw); 11. (at waist) hache d'assemblage (collection of hatchets); 12. (in right hand) auget pour couleur (small box for paints); 13. (in box) perpendicule (triangle); 14. (right hand) mesure (measure).

Very bottom of lower margin reads, Cum Priv. Maj. Plate #123
Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of a carpenter.

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).