Pierre-mathieu Ogier (active Between 1676 And 1709) - Engraved copper plate, dated 1691

Pierre-Mathieu Ogier (active between 1676 and 1709)
Annunciation Scene

Engraved copper plate, dated 1691
17.5 x 11.2 cm

Provenance:
Private collection, France

This engraved copper plate by Pierre-Mathieu Ogier depicts the biblical scene of the Annunciation with remarkable precision. The Virgin Mary is shown kneeling in prayerful reverence, while the angel Gabriel, surrounded by a divine radiance, delivers the sacred message. Above, God the Father appears amidst a heavenly host, reinforcing the spiritual significance of the moment. The composition is finely executed, with careful cross-hatching, intricate detailing of the drapery, and a clear spatial arrangement—all characteristic of devotional prints of the late 17th century.

Pierre-Mathieu Ogier, a prolific engraver based in Lyon, came from a family of artisans. He married Anne Ballet in 1676 and lived in the Bon-Rencontre district, a name he often included in his signatures (“fecit à Bon-Rencontre”). While his works were sometimes considered modest in quality, Ogier produced a substantial body of engravings, including portraits, religious images, and plates commemorating temporary decorations for public celebrations in Lyon and Grenoble. He frequently collaborated with booksellers and publishers, providing vignettes, frontispieces, and illustrated plates for their publications.

This plate, dated 1691, is a notable example of Ogier’s religious imagery. It reflects the artist’s dedication to accessible, spiritually engaging compositions. Despite the technical limitations of the period and the artisanal context of its production, the scene remains visually powerful and narratively clear. It stands as both a devotional object and a valuable document of the visual culture of late 17th-century France, particularly within the vibrant printmaking tradition of Lyon during the reign of Louis XIV.