A Man Drawing

c. 1750

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

Associated Names
Jean-Baptiste Deshays

Artist, French, 1729 - 1765

The sketch depicts a person in a seated position from the back and side. The individual is reclined against a surface, possibly a bench or low wall, with legs stretched out in front and crossed at the ankles. They are holding a book or similar object with both hands. The person's facial features are not visible due to the angle, but their head is tilted slightly forward. They are wearing voluminous, loose-fitting robes. There are no visible pieces of jewelry. The background is minimal.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    black and white chalk on beige laid paper, laid down on old mount

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 26.1 × 37.6 cm (10 1/4 × 14 13/16 in.)
    mount: 37.6 × 51 cm (14 13/16 × 20 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2019.136.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Charles Ratton & Guy Ladriere, Paris); purchased 2019 by NGA.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

by later hand, lower right in graphite: Eustace LeSueur / Etude par la vie [not deciphered]; printed number cut out and pasted on lower right: 178; by later hand, upper left verso in graphite: 18-022; by later hand, upper right verso in graphite: Appartant de l2, Campredon(?) / [name not deciphered]

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