Rococo Wall Design with a Fountain and Swans [verso]

c. 1729

Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater

Associated Names
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater

Artist, French, 1695 - 1736

The image shows swirling, curvilinear lines and shapes forming an abstract composition. The designs resemble ornate foliage, wave crests, feathers, curls, and floral elements. The red ochre wash gives the image an aged look, reminiscent of a sketch for a decorative element in a rich setting.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    red chalk and red chalk counterproof on 2 joined sheets of laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Neil and Ivan Phillips

  • Dimensions

    overall: 22.9 x 23.2 cm (9 x 9 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1996.25.1.b

Associated Artworks

The drawing depicts a person standing with their weight shifted to one leg. The person is turned slightly to the side, with one hand holding an object over their shoulder, while the other hand rests on their hip. The face is sketched with closed lips, and the person's hair appears to be tied back or covered. The person wears a long coat or robe, trousers, and boots. There is no visible jewelry. The sketch includes faint facial features to the upper right and marks in the lower right corner. The background is plain, emphasizing the hand-drawn nature of the image with visible paper texture and creases.

A Comic Actor Dressed as a Gentleman [recto]

Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater

1729

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Camille Groult [1837-1908]; (sale, Paris, 18 December 1941, lot 39);[1] Jacques Mathey, Paris, by 1957; (sale, New York, Christie's, 10 January 1996, lot 198); purchased by NGA, 1996.
[1] Provenance in Christie's 10 January 1996 sale catalogue indicates this was lot 39 in a Paris sale on 18 December 1941. Research has uncovered only one Hotel Drouot sale on that date, and lot 39 in that sale catalogue does not correspond in title, dimensions nor medium. There is nothing in the object file to clarify this discrepancy.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

by later hand, center right verso in graphite, erased: 24 / 20 / 10 / 120

Watermarks

crescent moon (partial watermark)

Wikidata ID

Q64581142

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