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The sketch depicts a person in a seated position from the back and side. The individual is reclined against a surface, possibly a bench or low wall, with legs stretched out in front and crossed at the ankles. They are holding a book or similar object with both hands. The person's facial features are not visible due to the angle, but their head is tilted slightly forward. They are wearing voluminous, loose-fitting robes. There are no visible pieces of jewelry. The background is minimal.
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The sketch depicts a person in a seated position from the back and side. The individual is reclined against a surface, possibly a bench or low wall, with legs stretched out in front and crossed at the ankles. They are holding a book or similar object with both hands. The person's facial features are not visible due to the angle, but their head is tilted slightly forward. They are wearing voluminous, loose-fitting robes. There are no visible pieces of jewelry. The background is minimal.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Man Drawing

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

Date
c. 1750
Medium
black and white chalk on beige laid paper, laid down on old mount
Dimensions
sheet: 26.1 × 37.6 cm (10 1/4 × 14 13/16 in.) mount: 37.6 × 51 cm (14 13/16 × 20 1/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2019.136.1
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1726 to 1750
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record

Subjects and terms

  • Seated figure
  • Book
  • Man
Provenance

(Charles Ratton & Guy Ladriere, Paris); purchased 2019 by NGA.

Inscription

by later hand, lower right in graphite: Eustace LeSueur / Etude par la vie [not deciphered]; printed number cut out and pasted on lower right: 178; by later hand, upper left verso in graphite: 18-022; by later hand, upper right verso in graphite: Appartant de l2, Campredon(?) / [name not deciphered]

NGA object ID 219342. 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.