1711
watercolor
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Six Studies of Commedia dell'Arte Actors: Polchinelle, Columbine, Pierrot, a Captain, Harlequin "en femme," and Scaramouche is a 1711 watercolor by Claude Gillot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
Six actors stand in a row, each in a different pose. The first man on the left holds his arms out wide, like he’s dancing. Next to him, a woman in a long dress stands stiffly, her hands folded. The third person, a man in a simple shirt, looks straight ahead. The fourth man wears a hat and coat, holding a stick. The fifth actor is dressed as a woman, holding a fan and a tall hat. The last man on the right leans slightly forward, one hand on his hip. Notice how the artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and personality. The clothes and props hint at old theater traditions. Next, look up Baroque to see how drama and energy shaped this era’s art.
Claude Gillot (April 27, 1673 – May 4, 1722) was a French painter, printmaker, and illustrator, best known as the master of Watteau and Lancret.
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