Venus and the Graces Crowning Thémire

1795/1796

Jean François Pierre Peyron

Associated Names
Jean François Pierre Peyron

Artist, French, 1744 - 1814

This is a drawing of a classical mythological scene. The scene depicts a group of female figures in an ethereal setting surrounded by clouds and nature elements. They are depicted with flowing garments and engaging in a graceful ritual or gathering. Cherubic figures are interspersed among them. The setting is under a large tree with expansive branches. The drawing captures the elegance and harmony of the figures and their environment with delicate lines and shading.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black and brown ink with brown wash over traces of graphite, on laid paper, laid down

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Jeffrey E. Horvitz

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 21 x 14.6 cm (8 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2008.117.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Private collection, France; Didier Aaron et Cie, Paris; Jeffrey E. Horvitz, Boston, MA, 1999 (his mark, an H in a diamond printed in black on the mount, not in Lugt); gift to NGA, 2008.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2009

  • Renaissance to Revolution: French Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, 1500-1800. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2009, 266-267, 292, no. 115 (color).

Bibliography

1983

  • Rosenberg, Pierre, and Udolpho van de Sandt. Pierre Peyron, 1744 - 1814. Paris, 1983: 138, under no. 147.3 (as "disparu")

Inscriptions

signed at lower right in ink: P. Peyron; by later hand(?) lower edge in pen and gray ink: Des que Thémire parut Vénus ne regarda qu'elle. Elle appela les Graces. Allez la couron /ener leur dit-elle; de toutes les beautés que je vois c'est la seule qui vous ressemble. By a different hand in pen and gray ink at lower right: Temple de Gnide

Wikidata ID

Q64581012

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