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The Divertissement from Voltaire's "La princesse de Navarre"

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin

1745

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century

Dominant colour

The Divertissement from Voltaire's "La princesse de Navarre" is a 1745 chalk by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gabriel de Saint-Aubin
When & what style?: 1745 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a lively crowd of people in a grand room with tall ceilings and big windows. The figures are dressed in fancy 18th-century clothes, some standing, some talking in groups, and others playing music. The lines are loose and quick, with lots of shading in red chalk that makes the scene feel busy but not overly detailed. The artist used red chalk to create soft shadows and textures, giving the drawing a warm, earthy tone. This style was common in sketches made to plan larger works or capture ideas fast. Next, check out Baroque to see how this sketch fits into that dramatic, detailed movement.