Lot 460: Nicolas Venevault (French, 1697-1775) Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with Adam holding Eve's Hand; and Eve giving Adam the Apple, with a Serpent in the Apple Tree, and a Lion, a Peacock, Sheep, a Cat and Rabbits in the Garden of Eden both signed

Nicolas Venevault (French, 1697-1775) Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, with Adam holding Eve's Hand; and Eve giving Adam the Apple, with a Serpent in the Apple Tree, and a Lion, a Peacock, Sheep, a Cat and Rabbits in the Garden of Eden both signed with initials lower right "N.V. invit 1751" watercolour on ivory 16 x 12cm a pair (2) : From a French private collection and by descent These miniatures are dated 1751, a year in which Venevault exhibited at the Academy of Saint Luke, showing a miniature, two landscapes and a portrait of Boucher. It is interesting that Venevault painted Boucher, as the miniatures show the influence of Boucher at a time when he was much in fashion. 1753 Venevault was made a member of the Royal Academy and was thereafter allowed to exhibit at the Salon, which he did until 1771. In 1750 Boucher painted one or two religious subjects and the present miniatures show a parallel revival of religious subject matter