Cuisinier-Pasissier-Traiteur -Rotisseur

Date1783

Publisher Charles-Joseph Panckoucke 1736 - 1798

Publisher Chez Panckoucke

OriginEurope, France, Paris

MediumEtching with line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 11 1/2 × 8in. (29.2 × 20.3cm)
Other (Plate): 9 1/2 × 6 1/2in. (24.1 × 16.5cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1953-46

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "Pl. 1.ere"
Lower margin reads: "Cuisinier-Patissier-Traiteur- Rotisseur./ Tour à Pâte, Bassines, Mortier &c./ 145"Label TextThis plate was published to accompany Charles-Joseph Panckoucke's "Encyclopédie Methodique" which expanded Denis Diderot's monumental "Encyclopédie." This plate, which depicts the pastrymaker's art, was from volume one of "Recueil de Planches de L'Encyclopédie, Par Ordre de Matiéres." The vignette at the top of the plate (which was largely copied from Robert Bénard's plate for Diderot) shows a busy pastery kitchen with food in preparation. The bottom shows many of the utensils used in the kitchen. Such things as egg whites being whipped, ice being sculptured, game hanging overhead ready for use, and the actual placing of things in the fire can be seen.ProvenanceBefore 1953, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1953-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).