The Public in the Salon of the Louvre, Viewing the Painting of the "Sacre"

Französische Grafik 1800–1812, begun 1808

The artwork is a horizontal, detailed drawing depicting a crowded scene in a salon at the Louvre. The central focus is a large framed painting of a ceremonial event, elevated above a dense gathering of onlookers. The crowd, composed of men, women, and children in early 19th-century attire, occupies the lower half of the composition. They are dressed in various clothing styles, including coats, dresses, and hats, with some figures gesturing or pointing towards the painting. The room is spacious, with draped curtains visible to the right. The use of soft tones and careful line work emphasizes the expressions and interactions among the figures.
Artist
Französische Grafik 1800–1812
Date
begun 1808
Type
Drawing
Medium
pen and black ink with gray wash and watercolor over traces of graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
59.5 × 80.3 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The artwork is a horizontal, detailed drawing depicting a crowded scene in a salon at the Louvre. The central focus is a large framed painting of a ceremonial event, elevated above a dense gathering of onlookers. The crowd, composed of men, women, and children in early 19th-century attire, occupies the lower half of the composition. They are dressed in various clothing styles, including coats, dresses, and hats, with some figures gesturing or pointing towards the painting. The room is spacious, with draped curtains visible to the right. The use of soft tones and careful line work emphasizes the expressions and interactions among the figures.

Französische Grafik 1800–1812