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Sketchbook with Studies for “The Distribution of the Eagles” (Carnet 10)

Jacques Louis David French

ca. 1809

Not on view

This sketchbook contains studies for many individual figures in The Distribution of the Eagles, including two for the empress Josephine. Her ghostly presence in an X-radiograph of the oil sketch hanging nearby shows that David had planned to show her seated behind Napoleon. Following their divorce, he was ordered to remove her from the painting.

Sketchbook with Studies for “The Distribution of the Eagles” (Carnet 10), Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels), Sketchbook of 65 folios, with 33 mounted drawings, most in black chalk, some in pen and black ink — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Sketchbook with Studies for “The Distribution of the Eagles” (Carnet 10)

Artist: Jacques Louis David (French, Paris 1748–1825 Brussels)

Date: ca. 1809

Medium: Sketchbook of 65 folios, with 33 mounted drawings, most in black chalk, some in pen and black ink

Dimensions: 9 15/16 × 8 3/16 × 7/8 in. (25.3 × 20.8 × 2.2 cm)

Classification: Drawings

Credit Line: The Art Institute of Chicago, Helen Regenstein Collection, 1961.393.1

Object Number: DAVID.80

How Chalk Drawings are Made

How Chalk Drawings are Made

An illustrated explainer.

How Ink Drawings are Made

How Ink Drawings are Made

An illustrated explainer.

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