The Old Savoyard

Description

The Flemish-born artist Jean-Antoine Watteau deviated from his acclaimed scenes of courtly figures in park-like settings (called fêtes galantes) with this arresting and naturalistic chalk drawing of a humble Savoyard. This elderly vagabond from the Savoy region of France was one of many peasants who, around the turn of the eighteenth century, flocked to Paris, where they tried to eke out livings as chimney sweeps, scavengers, or street entertainers. This old entertainer’s props accompany him: a large box of curiosities is on his back, and under his arm is a smaller case probably containing his constant companion and coperformer, a furry marmot. Using only two colors of chalk, Watteau depicted the Savoyard’s shrewd, humorous face, his tattered clothing, and his bulky paraphernalia with remarkable precision, sensitivity, and humanity. Of the ten extant studies of Savoyards by Watteau, four appear to portray the same salty character seen here. The drawing’s broad, free execution points to the accomplished late works of this gifted artist.

Provenance

Jean de Julienne (died 1766); sold, Paris, March 30-May 22, 1767, de Julienne Sale, lot 769 [London 1948 auc. cat.]. Mrs. A. L. Grimaldi; sold, Sotheby’s, London, February 25, 1948, lot 85. Georges Wildenstein, London, by 1957 [Washington, D.C., 1984; Parker and Mathey 1957]. Mrs. Corina Kavanagh, Buenos Aires; sold, Sotheby’s, London, March 11, 1964, lot 220, to the Art Institute.

The Old Savoyard

Jean Antoine Watteau

c. 1715

Accession Number

20432

Medium

Red and black chalk on cream laid paper

Dimensions

35.9 × 22.1 cm (14 3/16 × 8 3/4 in.)

Classification

chalk

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

Helen Regenstein Collection