1736
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Quoi! Vous servez Valois... is a 1736 graphite by Hubert François Gravelot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows four people in a room with fancy moldings on the walls. Two women sit together on a couch, looking down and chatting. One man kneels in front of them, holding something out, while another man stands nearby, holding a flag. The lines are soft and the shading is light, giving everything a warm, fuzzy look. The artist used red chalk to keep the drawing loose and sketchy, almost like a quick study. The scene looks like it’s meant to be funny or dramatic, but the exact story isn’t clear just from looking. If you like this style, check out the Baroque movement next.
Hubert-François Bourguignon, commonly known as Gravelot (26 March 1699 – 20 April 1773), was a French engraver, a famous book illustrator, designer and drawing-master.
See the richer artist page
