Studies for “The Country Dance”

ca. 1760–62

Not on view

On his walks through the city, Saint-Aubin would sometimes stop to draw figures, all of whom were seemingly unaware that they were being observed. He typically used a soft black chalk to quickly capture poses and gently model the forms.

We see a woman seated on the ground holding a baby and a group of young boys crowding around some source of entertainment. Visible to the left of the boy in the foreground kneeling on one knee is an initial sketch of the pose, drawn more faintly. Most of the figures and objects on this sheet would be used in Saint-Aubin’s painting The Country Dance, today in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

References

Title: Studies for “The Country Dance”
Artist: Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (French, Paris 1724–1780 Paris)
Date: ca. 1760–62
Medium: Black and red chalk with touches of brush and gray wash
Dimensions: Sheet: 5 in. × 6 3/4 in. (12.7 × 17.1 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Promised Gift of Stephen A. Geiger, in memory of his parents, Howard W. Geiger and Mildred K. Geiger, and in honor of his brother, Julian R. Geiger
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Germain-Augustin and Rose de Saint-Aubin, Drawn by Their Uncle, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin French, Brush and gray wash, over black chalk and graphite — Germain-Augustin and Rose de Saint-Aubin, Drawn by Their Uncle
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin
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Guitar, Jean-Baptiste Voboam French, Spruce, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, ivory, ebony, French — Guitar
attributed to Jean-Baptiste Voboam
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Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso), Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia) Italian, Pen and brown ink, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink, brush with touches of brown wash, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (verso) — Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)
Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia)
1435–38

The Newsmongers, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin French, Etching, early state — The Newsmongers
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin
1752

Ceramic Horn, Glazed pottery, French — Ceramic Horn
French
late 18th or early 19th century

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