# Two Grenadiers

**Victor Adam** (French, 1801–1866)  
brush and brown wash with pen and brown ink over graphite on wove paper laid down on album sheet  
sheet: 16 x 12.5 cm (6 5/16 x 4 15/16 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2009.70.2. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.143801.html).

## About this work

Victor Adam drew this. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image features two men in military uniform engaging closely with each other. Both are shown from head to toe. The man on the left stands with his left leg forward, holding a rifle, and has his right arm around the shoulder of the other man. The man on the right has his right leg slightly bent, supporting his weight, and is holding a sword in his left hand. Each man has distinctive facial features. Both wear tall, elaborate military hats and detailed uniforms. The man on the left displays a strap over his shoulder, while the man on the right has intricate decorations on his jacket and trousers. In the background, there are a few more soldiers and part of a building to the left. The setting is monochromatic.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
- **Album leaf.** A page from an album, meant to be held and looked at closely, one opening at a time.

### [Victor Adam](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/victor-adam)

French, 1801–1866

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- Real size: about 6½ × 5 in (16 × 13 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: Costume, Gun, Sword, Man, Frame
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1672.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1672/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/two-grenadiers-nga-143801).