Study for a Monument to a Princely Figure
Boucher followed a long tradition of court artists who supplied designs for all sorts of media and occasions, from wedding decorations to funerary monuments. Oil sketches such as this were often the preferred means of conveying information to both the client and the artisans who would craft the object. Boucher masterfully employs monochrome greys, known as grisaille, to suggest stone paired with what might be intended to be gilt bronze. Slivers of the paper support have been deliberately left visible, creating highlights around the figures.
Artwork Details
- Title: Study for a Monument to a Princely Figure
- Artist: François Boucher (French, Paris 1703–1770 Paris)
- Medium: Oil on paper, mounted on board
- Dimensions: 15 x 12 5/8 in. (38.1 x 32.1 cm)
- Classification: Pastels & Oil Sketches on Paper
- Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906
- Object Number: 07.225.291
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
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