Royal Review of the Troops

1760s

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin

Associated Names
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin

Artist, French, 1724 - 1780

The scene is depicted from a slightly elevated point of view, showing a lively view of the activity below. The horizon line is high in the composition, with a cluster of trees painted in light greens and blues. The style features sketch-like brown ink lines highlighting human figures and scene details. There are people and carriages in shades of grey and brown ink with white highlights, suggesting movement and interaction. In the background, there is a procession fading into a lightly sketched background. Soft washes of color define the landscape, creating depth. The overall palette is subtle and earthy, with muted tones.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite and black chalk, pen and brown ink with gray-brown wash and watercolor on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Gertrude Laughlin Chanler

  • Dimensions

    overall: 31.1 x 46.7 cm (12 1/4 x 18 3/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2000.9.24

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Edouard Kann. Private collection (sale, London, 22 March 1923, no. 5). (Thomas Agnew and Sons, London); The Hon. Irwin Boyle Laughlin, Washington, D.C.; his wife, Therese Iselin Laughlin, Washington, D.C., 1941; their daughter, Gertrude Laughlin Chanler, New York, 1958; gift to NGA, 2000.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1982

  • Eighteenth Century Drawings from the Collection of Mrs. Gertrude Laughlin Chanler, NGA, Washington, D.C., 1982, no. 21.

2000

  • Drawings and Prints from the Permanent Collection (Summer 2000), National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2000 (no catalogue).

Bibliography

1929

  • Dacier, Emile. Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, peintre, dessinateur et graveur (1724-1780). 2 vols. Paris, 1929 and 1931: 2: no. 639, p. 113.

Inscriptions

by the artist, upper left in graphite: le roy / Monseigneur le comte d'Artois / Monseigneur de (not deciphered)

Watermarks

cross surmounting letters HIS with flaming heart below

Wikidata ID

Q64570999

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