Ladies and Gentlemen Playing Billiards
1756
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1756
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Ladies and Gentlemen Playing Billiards is a 1756 ink by Johann Esaias Nilson, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a group of seven people in a bright, airy room playing billiards. The table sits in the center, with two men leaning over it, one holding a cue stick. Others stand around, watching or chatting. Behind them, large windows let in light, and shelves hold odd-shaped objects. The edges of the paper are decorated with swirling, leaf-like designs. Notice how the artist used fine lines and shading to make the scene feel lively. The players’ clothes look fancy, and the room’s details—like the hanging lamps—add a sense of place. Want to see more by this artist? Check out Nilson, Johann Esaias.
Johann Esaias Nilson (1721–1788) was an artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page
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