1774
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Rendezvous in the Palais Royal is a 1774 chalk by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a naked man standing on a pedestal, turning slightly to look down at a smaller figure kneeling beside him. The man’s body is drawn with loose, confident lines, while the kneeling figure is more roughly sketched. Behind them, a rocky wall and a few faint, ghostly shapes add depth to the scene. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes—some areas are barely more than scribbles—while others, like the man’s hands, are more carefully detailed. The date "20 May 1774" is written in the corner, hinting this was a fast, on-the-spot drawing. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layered lines.
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin was a French draftsman, printmaker, etcher and painter.
See the richer artist page
![Two Nude Youths [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/a057469b757ac46c/thumb.webp)
![Male Nude [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/8c3354d89884753a/thumb.webp)
![Male Nude [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d48a81b2ad2bdbb8/thumb.webp)
