Description
In David’s powerful study, the defeated Roman general Marcus Atilius Regulus, refusing the entreaties of his wife, insists on being sent back to Carthage to be executed. The relief-like drawing, seemingly carved from stone, boldly combines a sober setting and technique (black ink, white wash) with extreme theatricality, like a scene performed onstage.
Provenance
By descent to the artist’s son, Eugène [Lugt 839]; sold, April 17, 1826, J. L. David studio sale, lot 53 to M. Musigny for 1963 francs [Paris 1989]. Possibly sold, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, November 21-22, 1859, M. Mayor sale, lot 41. Possibly sold, May 2, 1863, lot 131. Édouard Desperet (1804-1865) [Lugt 721]; sold, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, June 7-13, 1865, Desperet sale, lot 537, to le Blanc for 54 francs [Rosenberg and Prat 2002]. Baron de Beurnonville, Paris; sold, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, February 16-19, 1885, lot 291. Sold, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 1970, no cat.. Henri Baderou (1990-1991), Paris [Paris 1989]. Sold by Herman Shickman Gallery, New York, to the Art Institute, 1976.
Accession Number
50397
Medium
Pen and black ink and brush and black ink wash and opaque white watercolor with black chalk and touches of brown watercolor on blue laid paper
Dimensions
Sight: 31 × 40.9 cm (12 1/4 × 16 1/8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Credit Line
Clarence Buckingham Collection