Artwork
Seated Faun
Seated Faun is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Louis de Boullogne the Younger. It dates from 1702 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Seated Faun is a drawing executed in 1702 by the French artist Louis de Boullogne the Younger. Rendered in red and black chalk with highlights of white on a blue laid paper, the work measures a modest size typical of preparatory studies. The composition presents a single mythological figure in a quiet, frontal pose.
Subject & Meaning
The figure depicted is a faun, a creature from classical mythology that combines human and goat attributes. In this rendition the faun is seated, its gaze directed straight ahead, conveying a calm, contemplative presence. The portrayal emphasizes the creature’s natural, unguarded state rather than any narrative action.
Technique & Style
Boullogne employs a restrained line economy, using red and black chalk to outline the form while white chalk adds subtle highlights. Gradual shading creates a sense of volume, lending the figure a three‑dimensional quality against the blue ground. The approach reflects the period’s interest in chiaroscuro and the soft transitions associated with the sfumato technique.
History & Provenance
Created early in the eighteenth century, the drawing belongs to the oeuvre of Louis de Boullogne the Younger, a member of a prominent artistic family in Paris. While specific ownership records are limited, the work is catalogued among his surviving drawings and is held in a public collection that documents French academic drawing practices of the era.
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Artist & collection
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