Decorative Details from Florence and the Vatican

1775/80

Jacques-Louis David

Associated Names
Jacques-Louis David
Artist, French, 1748 - 1825
The image features three main objects in pencil on paper: an ornate column capital or pedestal at the top, a decorative urn with intricate detailing in the middle, and a shallow bowl with fluted sides at the bottom. The color palette is predominantly gray, with varying shades used to create depth and highlight the design details. Positioned on a vertical layout, the column capital or pedestal is at the top left, the urn is centrally located, and the shallow bowl is placed slightly to the right of the urn towards the bottom.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gray wash over black chalk on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall: 21.2 x 15.7 cm (8 3/8 x 6 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1998.105.1.yy

Associated Artworks

See all 86 artworks
This is a photograph of a textured brown cover with an intricate pattern. The cover has a rich, earthy tone with a subtle and complex swirling pattern across the surface. It appears to be an old book or journal cover, with a darker brown border outlining it. There is a handwritten red and black text near the top. The overall appearance suggests a vintage or antique quality, with signs of wear along the edges.

Roman Album No. 4: Italian Landscapes and Antiquities

Jacques-Louis David
1775
The image shows a person walking to the right, holding an object in their right hand. They are wearing an ancient Roman or Greek-style draped garment with a head covering. The person's face is in profile, looking slightly upward. Garlands with objects like a basket and cloth hang in the air around them. The background is plain, emphasizing the person and the hanging objects.

Ornament with a Bearded Man in Ancient Dress

Jacques-Louis David
1775
This image shows an illustration of a woman standing upright. She is wearing flowing garments that suggest movement, with one knee bent as if in motion. Her hair is styled in tight curls and appears to be pulled back. The woman's facial expression is focused as she gazes upward or forward. She seems to be holding something in her right hand, while her left arm is hidden. The background is plain.

Niobe and Her Daughter

Jacques-Louis David
1775

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist (sale, Paris, 17 April 1826, under no. 66; withdrawn); Mme. David (sale, Paris, 11 March 1835, under no. 16); purchased by one of David's pupils, Mlle. X (name obliterated);[1] by descent in her family; (Bruno de Bayser, Paris); purchased 1998 by NGA.

[1] According to inscription on flyleaf.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

upper right in black ink: Vatican; lower center in black chalk or graphite: Florence; lower left: paraphes of E.D. and J.D.

Wikidata ID

Q64580195

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