A Fan with Classical Figures Processing to Apollo

A Fan with Classical Figures Processing to Apollo

French 18th Century

1795

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This fan shows a curved band of small, detailed scenes. On the top half, robed figures—some standing, some seated—are arranged in a procession. The bottom half has smaller groups, including people playing music and a few animals. The background is dark, while the figures stand out in white and light lines. Notice how the figures are all dressed in flowing robes, like ancient Greek or Roman statues. The scenes look like they’re telling a story, maybe about gods or heroes. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists create these precise lines.

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