Dominique Vivant-Denon
1810
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1810
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white drawing shows a man in a dark coat and white cravat. He’s holding a quill pen in one hand and a small inkwell on the table in front of him. The background is plain, but his face has soft shading to show light and shadow. The text below his name calls him a member of France’s art academy and a director of Napoleon’s museums. His relaxed pose with the pen suggests he might be writing or sketching. Look up Christophe Guerin to see how he used shading in other portraits.
