The Oyster Eaters by Boilly
Amongst the relics from my restaurant days are a number of old prints that Chef Albert Roux gave me as an opening gift. They hung in the restaurant dining room. I have two from a French artist named Louis-Leopold Boilly.
From Wikipedia: "Louis-Léopold Boilly (5 July 1761 – 4 January 1845) was a French painter. A number of his paintings vividly document the French middle-class social life of his time.
Boilly was born in Douai in northern France but moved to Arras at the age of seventeen to receive instruction in [trompe l'oeil] painting from Dominique Doncre (1743-1820). Seven years later Boilly moved to Paris where he exhibited in the Salon between 1791 and 1824 - receiving a gold medal in 1804.
In 1794, Boilly was condemned by the Comité de Salut Public, at the height of Terror, for the erotic undertones of his work. This offence was remedied by an eleventh-hour discovery in his home of the more patriotic Triumph of Marat (Musée des Beaux Arts, Lille) which saved him from serious penalties."
This print, which appears to be signed, is part of a series that showcased his keen observation of human behavior. He recorded facial details and gestures as well as social customs and fashions of the day. The studies such as the one posted here are part of a series chronicling his time in history.
I am reminded of an oyster dish we prepared at Le Gavroche in London, England. It was called Huitres Francine. The oysters were shucked, saving the juice. The shell had a small mound of lobster mousseline piped into it and the bake to set the mousse. The oysters were poached in their juice with champagne just enough to plump them the the oysters were et on top of the lobster mousseline. The cooking juice was reduces, cream added and reduced to a coating consistency, finished with a cooked lobster butter. Poached cucumber julienne was added to the oysters on the shell, then a coating of the reduced sauce. Oh yes, there was also a dollop of beluga caviar.
Chef Michael Hutchings
Michael's Catering
Santa Barbara, CA
