1710
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Two Standing Soldiers, One Wearing a Hat is a 1710 chalk by Jean Antoine Watteau, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two soldiers standing side by side. One wears a hat pulled low, while the other’s head is bare. Their uniforms look simple but well-fitted, and the lines are loose and quick, like a first draft. The paper has a warm, beige tone, and the red chalk stands out against it. The drawing feels unfinished, almost like a practice piece. The artist didn’t smooth out the details—just quick strokes to capture the shapes and poses. This style was common for studying figures before painting. Next, check out Baroque to see how this sketch’s energy fits into that movement.
Jean-Antoine Watteau was a French painter and draughtsman whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour and movement, as seen in the tradition of Correggio and Rubens.
See the richer artist page
![Man Leaning on a Rail [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/c9936b6777df930d/thumb.webp)
![A Comic Actor Dressed as a Gentleman [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/e5df5dc0f9bcc859/thumb.webp)
