1822
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
François I Brandishing a Sword is a 1822 by Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A king in a fancy red coat holds a sword high, his face set in a fierce scowl. The background is dark, with only a few quick lines suggesting a room or battle. This sketch was probably meant for a book or print—Fragonard drew scenes like this to tell stories about France’s past. He liked showing bold moments, like this one of King François I, who ruled in the 1500s but was still a popular subject in the 1800s. If you like this kind of dramatic history scene, look up *The Cleveland Museum of Art*.
Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard developed a dramatic, narrative style of drawing that was well suited for illustration, and this sheet may have been one such design. Like many of his contemporaries, Fragonard was interested in modern history, focusing on important figures of the recent past. Here, he likely depicted the French king François I (1494–1547), a frequent subject of his work.
Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard was the son of the famous painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, but developed a very different artistic style than his father.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard (French pronunciation: ; 26 October 1780 – 10 November 1850) was a French painter and sculptor in the troubadour style.
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