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Foliage Study: Branches of a Chestnut Tree

Jean Honoré Fragonard French

ca. 1765

Not on view

This sheet records the branches of a chestnut tree heavy with leaves and nuts. The study was likely inspired by the instruction of Charles Joseph Natoire, director of the Académie de France in Rome, who emphasized the importance of directly observing nature. In Fragonard’s studies of individual trees or masses of foliage, however, he was less interested in rendering botanical accuracy than in capturing the effects of light and the textures of leaves with stylized strokes of red chalk.

Foliage Study: Branches of a Chestnut Tree, Jean Honoré Fragonard (French, Grasse 1732–1806 Paris), Red chalk — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Foliage Study: Branches of a Chestnut Tree

Artist: Jean Honoré Fragonard (French, Grasse 1732–1806 Paris)

Date: ca. 1765

Medium: Red chalk

Dimensions: 12 13/16 × 16 1/8 in. (32.5 × 40.9 cm)

Classification: Drawings

Credit Line: Private collection

Accession Number: SL.5.2016.13.11

How Chalk Drawings are Made

How Chalk Drawings are Made

An illustrated explainer.

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