Le Scélérat Damiens
1757
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin was a French draftsman, printmaker, etcher and painter.
See the richer artist page1757
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Le Scélérat Damiens is a 1757 ink by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a man’s face and shoulders in heavy, tangled lines. The paper has a textured look, like old paper with a faint grid pattern. His hair and clothes are made of swirling marks, giving a rough, almost restless feel. The title at the bottom reads *Le Scélérat Damiens*—that’s French for "The Villain Damiens." The artist used a technique that layers lines to build up shadow and texture. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one create detailed prints with acid and metal plates.
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin was a French draftsman, printmaker, etcher and painter.
See the richer artist page
