Drawing for "La Colonne Trajane" (18th century, Met-Objekt 6184)
Original title: Drawing for "La Colonne Trajane"
kurzbeschreibung
Two heads in profile, drawn in red chalk, come from the hand of François Boucher and date to the 18th century. The sheet is regarded as a preparatory study for a painting whose subject is Trajan's Column.
Description
Two heads face one another, both turned in profile to the left. The head on the left has short, wavy hair and lifts its gaze slightly upward; the one on the right, with long wavy hair, looks down. Fine hatching and line build the faces, defining contours and the surfaces of skin and hair. An empty background pushes the heads forward. An even red-brown, modulated by the strokes, sits on slightly yellowish paper.
Context
Drawn in the 18th century, the sheet is thought to be a study for a painting featuring Trajan's Column. The column in Rome counted as a major ancient monument and often inspired artists of the period. Boucher, a leading Rococo painter, was known for decorative and mythological work. Neither the exact circumstances of the drawing nor a patron is recorded.
Impact
Precise lines and the calm arrangement of the two heads give the sheet balance and elegance. The red chalk lets the faces read as warm and alive, which is characteristic of Boucher's style.
Technique
The sheet is executed in red chalk, a red crayon suited to delicate shading. Hatching and parallel lines produced volume and texture. The slightly yellowish tone of the paper heightens the effect of the red chalk.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)