A Seated Elderly Man Asleep

c. 1758

Jean-Charles Francois, after Nicholas Henry Jeaurat de Bertry

Associated Names
Jean-Charles François

Artist, French, 1717 - 1769

Nicholas Henry Jeaurat de Bertry

Artist After, French, after 1728 - 1796

The image depicts an elderly man from the waist up in a seated position. He is leaning forward, resting his left elbow on a surface while supporting his head with his hand. His eyes are closed, and he has a prominent beard and mustache, with thinning hair that recedes from his temples. The man is wearing a robe-like garment that covers his body, featuring a draped fabric that falls into soft folds. His other hand rests on his leg, open-palmed. The background is a plain, textured surface that gives depth to the image, with the edges of the garment and surface providing contrast against the backdrop. There are no visible objects or jewelry in the composition.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    chalk manner, softground etching (and burnishing?) over etched texture (and lavis?)

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    plate: 38.9 x 28 cm (15 5/16 x 11 in.)
    sheet: 39.5 x 28 cm (15 9/16 x 11 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.15.1


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(R. E. Lewis & Daughter, San Rafael, CA); purchased 2011 by NGA.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: par NV jaurant peintre du Cabinet du Roi; lower right in plate: JG fecit et exe C. P. R.; lower right in graphite: Francois; verso: rough sketch in graphite of a man's head

Wikidata ID

Q76560591

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