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The image depicts a decorative pedestal with a basin at the top, supported by a column with intricate carvings such as animal heads and decorative swags. The color palette is grayscale with hints of brown outlining the pedestal's details. The pedestal is positioned in the center of the image on a square platform. Shadows underneath the pedestal imply a light source from the upper left.
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The image depicts a decorative pedestal with a basin at the top, supported by a column with intricate carvings such as animal heads and decorative swags. The color palette is grayscale with hints of brown outlining the pedestal's details. The pedestal is positioned in the center of the image on a square platform. Shadows underneath the pedestal imply a light source from the upper left.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Basin Supported by Sphinxes

Jacques-Louis David

Date
1775/80
Medium
red chalk and gray wash on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 15.3 x 11.9 cm (6 x 4 11/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1998.105.1.zz
Credit line
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • Neoclassic
Provenance

Estate of the artist (sale, Paris, 17 April 1826, under no. 66; withdrawn); Mme. David (sale, Paris, 11 March 1835, under no. 16); purchased by one of David's pupils, Mlle. X (name obliterated);[1] by descent in her family; (Bruno de Bayser, Paris); purchased 1998 by NGA. [1] According to inscription on flyleaf.

Inscription

lower left: paraphes of E.D. and J.D.

NGA object ID 107095. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.