La Sentinelle en défaut
1771
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Nicolas Delaunay
Nicolas Delaunay (1739–1792) was a French artist, born in Paris.
See the richer artist page1771
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La Sentinelle en défaut is a 1771 ink by Nicolas Delaunay, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic night scene with a guard slumped asleep at his post. Outside, a woman in a loose dress leans against a wall, while another woman and child huddle in the shadows nearby. The street is dim, with flickering light from a window and a faint glow from a lantern. The guard’s hat lies on the ground, and his sword is out of reach—maybe a clue about why things went wrong. The artist used sharp lines to show tension, especially in the guard’s slumped form. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one create detailed prints.
Nicolas Delaunay (1739–1792) was a French artist, born in Paris.
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