Tête de Putiphar (Potiphar's Wife)
1775
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Louis-Marin Bonnet
Louis-Marin Bonnet (1736–1793) was a French artist, born in Paris.
See the richer artist page1775
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Tête de Putiphar (Potiphar's Wife) is a 1775 chalk by Louis-Marin Bonnet, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a woman’s head turned slightly away, her hair pulled back with a few loose curls. Her neck and shoulders are bare, and the lines of her dress peek at the edge. The shading is soft but clear, making her skin and hair look almost three-dimensional. The title says this is "Potiphar’s Wife," a character from the Bible. The artist used a technique to create deep shadows and smooth transitions between light and dark. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this effect works in other art.
Louis-Marin Bonnet (1736–1793) was a French artist, born in Paris.
See the richer artist page
