Perrette, ou la petite laitière 1786

"Perrette, ou la petite laitière" (1786) is a black and white engraving by French artist Montbrian De Chateauvieux. Depicting a young milkmaid, Perrette, carrying a large bucket of milk, the work is a charming example of Rococo-style portraiture. The oval frame and delicate details of the subject's dress and surroundings evoke the grace and beauty of the period, and the milkmaid's innocent expression adds to the work's romantic charm. The print, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, measures just under 8 and a half inches in height, capturing the intimacy and delicacy of the scene.