Four Singing Commedia Dell'Arte Characters

early 18th century

Claude Gillot

Associated Names
Claude Gillot

Artist, French, 1673 - 1722

The image depicts four full-length figures in distinct poses. The first person on the left is leaning back on one foot, holding a large round object in both hands. The second person stands holding a long staff with both hands. The third figure leans slightly forward with arms crossed under a cloak. The fourth figure stands with one hand on his hip and the other extended towards the figure next to him. Their attire appears formal, likely costumes, with draped garments and tight-fitting pants. The background is plain with a grey and brown toned horizon line.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black ink with gray wash over graphite on laid paper, irregularly trimmed and laid down on a sheet touched with faded blue watercolor, on an old album sheet

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Donald Stone

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 5.5 × 8.5 cm (2 3/16 × 3 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2022.40.21

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

From an album (probably compiled in the 19th century) discovered in a private collection outside Paris c. 2004[1]; (Galerie de Bayser, Paris); purchased by 2006 by Donald Stone, New York [1942- 2020]; bequest to NGA, 2022.
[1] See Jennifer Tonkovich, "A New Album of Theater Drawings by Claude Gillot." Master Drawings 44, no. 4 (Winter, 2006): 464.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2006

  • Tonkovich, Jennifer. "A New Album of Theater Drawings by Claude Gillot." Master Drawings 44, no. 4 (Winter, 2006): no. 31, fig. 42.

Inscriptions

upper left in pen and black ink: XX

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