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The Sedan Chair

David, Sir Wilkie

1817

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Sedan Chair is a 1817 ink by David, Sir Wilkie, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: David, Sir Wilkie
When & what style?: 1817 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows three people in a wooded area. One person sits on a log, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and loose clothes, holding a baby on their lap. Another child stands nearby, also in a hat, leaning slightly toward the seated person. A small dog lies on the ground in front of them. The background is filled with trees and bushes, drawn with quick, textured lines. The artist used a technique that layers ink to create different shades, giving the scene a soft, almost smoky look. This method was common for detailed prints in the early 1800s. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists build depth in prints like this one.