Description

As an influential professor at the Royal Academy, Boucher taught life drawing. A savvy businessman, he realized the potential of producing etchings after his studies from life so that there might be instruction in provincial centers as well. This drawing—a dazzling demonstration of his technique of comingling red, black, and white chalks—was one of those reproduced.

Provenance

Probably acquired directly from the artist by Jean-Claude Gaspard de Sireul (c. 1710/20–1781), rue Lévêque, Paris (“Le portefeuille de Mr Boucher"); probably sold, Paris, December 3, 1781, no. 219; possibly Mr. Payant [a dealer who purchased several drawings from this sale]. Mme Verger, Dèves Chateau, near Avignon [inscription in pen and brown ink, verso of frame]. Private collection, Avignon, c. 1920–80; given to her nephew, Comte de Chambure, Aix-en-Provence, France, from c. 1985; sold Paris, Hôtel Drouot, October 10, 2000 (as French School, 18th century; no cat.) to Michel Gierzod, Nantes, France, to 2008.