The Chocolate Girl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Chocolate Girl |
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| French: La Belle Chocolatière | |
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| Artist | Jean-Étienne Liotard |
| Year | circa 1743-44 |
| Type | Pastel on parchment |
| Dimensions | 82.5 cm × 52.5 cm (32.5 in × 20.7 in) |
| Location | Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden |
The Chocolate Girl (also known as La Belle Chocolatière in French) is a very famous pastel painting. It was created by the talented Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard. The painting shows a young maid serving a cup of chocolate and a glass of water. Many people consider it Liotard's best work.
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About The Chocolate Girl
This beautiful artwork is one of the most well-known pastels by Jean-Étienne Liotard. He was an artist from Geneva. The painting shows a young maid carrying a tray. On the tray, there is a fancy porcelain cup of chocolate and a glass of water. Liotard's friends and other artists at the time thought The Chocolate Girl was his greatest painting.
The Painting's Journey
A man named Francesco Algarotti bought the painting directly from Liotard in Venice. This happened on February 3, 1745. Later, between 1747 and 1754, the painting became part of the art collection of Augustus III of Poland. He was a very important ruler.
In a letter from February 13, 1751, Augustus III wrote about the painting. He told his friend Pierre-Jean Mariette how much he liked it. He described the young German maid and how the light in the painting was very special. He also said it was painted with "perfect modelling," meaning it looked very real.
Where to Find It Now
Since 1855, The Chocolate Girl has been displayed in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany. This is a famous art museum. People have wondered about the girl in the painting. Some think she might have been a person named Nannerl Baldauf from Vienna. People also discuss her unique headdress, which might be a special cap or a regional style.
Surviving World War II
During World War II, the painting faced danger. The Germans moved it to Königstein Fortress to keep it safe. Even though it was cold and damp there, this delicate pastel survived. After the war, when Soviet troops advanced, the painting was brought back to Dresden. For a short time after the war, the Soviet Union had the painting.
A Famous Image
In 1862, an American company called Baker's Chocolate Company got the right to use the image of The Chocolate Girl. They used it in their advertisements.
Around 1900, the painting also inspired a famous image for Droste's cocoa tins. This image showed a "nurse" and was likely created by an artist named Jan Musset. Droste explained that this picture showed how healthy chocolate milk was. It became a very well-known symbol for their brand.
See also
In Spanish: La bella chocolatera para niños
