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The French eighteenth century

Fêtes, portraits and still lifes from the France of the Regency and Louis XV.

35 works · hang 431 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

First room, north wall

  1. Chalk drawing with red and black shading of man carrying crate and pack.
    The Old SavoyardAntoine Watteau, c. 1715Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. This is a drawing of a lion in a forested rocky landscape. The lion is seen standing over a defeated animal. In the background, a forest with dense trees frames the scene. One monkey is visible among the rocks watching the lion. The setting conveys a wild, rugged terrain with rocky formations and scattered vegetation. Light and shadow emphasize textures in the lion's mane and the surrounding rocks. The composition focuses on the lion and its prey.
    Le lion (The Lion)A.-J. de Fehrt, published 1759Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a man in a red coat in a river, holding on to a horse. A hat floats nearby. Three figures in 18th-century clothing stand on a rocky riverbank looking concerned. In the background, there are trees, a castle-like structure, and large clouds. The brushstrokes are detailed, capturing movement and textures. The color palette includes muted tones like earthy browns, greens, soft blue, and subtle reds.
    Le torrent et la riviere (The Torrent and theRiver)Louis-Simon Lempereur, published 1756Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. FIGURES FROM SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING
    Figures from Sistine Chapel ceilingJean-Robert Ango, ca. 1759–70Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

First room, south wall

  1. This is a painting of a king, a hawk, and a hunter in a classical architectural setting with columns and arches. In the image, a figure in royal clothing is seated beneath draped red fabric, facing a man in hunting attire holding a bird. A hawk perches on the royal figure's head, wings spread, while the hunter reaches toward the hawk. Surrounding them are other figures in armor, holding spears and shields. The style is reminiscent of classic European paintings with themes of mythology or allegory.
    Le roi, le milan, et le chasseur (The King, the Kite, and the Hunter)Benoît-Louis Prévost, published 1759Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. A work made of black chalk, with white chalk, on buff laid paper, laid down on laid paper.
    Hercules Raising his Club: Study for “Hercules and Cacus”François Le Moyne, 1717Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Shown from about the lap up, a young person with brown hair and a peachy complexion faces our left in profile as he leans onto a table and sets folded playing cards up in a row in this vertical painting. Shown against a dark background, his long, brown hair curls by his ears and is pulled back with a navy-blue ribbon at the nape of his neck. He has a delicately sloping nose, his pink lips are closed, the cheek facing us is flushed, and he looks down at the tabletop under lowered lids. He wears a chestnut-brown, long-sleeved coat with a dark blue sash across his chest and tied around his waist. The white of his undershirt peeks out at the high neck and wrists, and the brick-red lining of the sleeve of his jacket rolls back at his right wrist. The wooden table is lined with teal-blue fabric on its surface, and three coins lie near his left hand, closer to us. In that hand he holds three nested, vertically folded playing cards. With his right hand he places the last in a line of ten cards, standing vertically but close together like dominoes, in a curving row in front of him. Scarlet-red diamonds and hearts and the edges of some black shapes are visible within the bent cards. A jack of hearts and a piece of paper or the back of another card sit in a drawer that opens toward us along the side of the table. The artist signed the work in dark brown paint in the lower right corner: “J. Chardin.”
    The House of CardsJean Siméon Chardin, probably 1737Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. This is a drawing of anthropomorphic butterflies engaged in a duel with fencing swords. The butterflies have human-like bodies with wings resembling cloaks or capes. They stand on an ornate structure featuring decorative architectural elements like columns with floral and leaf motifs. Above them are arches, canopies, and hanging vines, creating a theatrical setting. The drawing combines fantasy and nature elements, showcasing elegance and imagination.
    Le Duel (The Duel)Charles Germain de Saint-Aubin, in or after 1756Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Second room, south wall

  1. The image shows an ancient ruin with arches and crumbling stonework surrounded by overgrown vegetation. The horizon is slightly elevated, emphasizing the towering remnants of the architecture. Expressive brushstrokes and textures are notable, especially in the vines and leaves on the stone. The color palette is subdued, mainly earthy tones and black, creating contrast and suggesting openings into the distance, enhancing the old, abandoned feel of the ruins.
    Arches of the Larger Baths at Hadrian's VillaCharles Michel-Ange Challe, c. 1748Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Soap Bubbles, by Jean Siméon Chardin, ca. 1733–34
    Soap BubblesJean Siméon Chardin, ca. 1733–34Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. This painting depicts a classical architectural scene with a bird and multiple individuals. It is done in the style of Jean-Baptiste Oudry. The image includes a large building with stone columns and stairs. A parrot is perched on a tree, catching attention with its colorful feathers. In the foreground, a person in classical clothing appears to be in motion. In the background, a group of people are gathered with varied expressions and gestures directed towards the person in the foreground. The architectural elements and foliage add depth and context to the scene.
    Les deux perroquets, le roi et son fils (Two Parrots, the King, and His Son)Antoine Radigues, published 1759Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. Portrait of the Marquise d'Aguirandes, by François Hubert Drouais, 1759
    Portrait of the Marquise d'AguirandesFrançois Hubert Drouais, 1759Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Second room, north wall

  1. Spring, by Jean-Baptiste Pater, c. 1720–36
    SpringJean-Baptiste Pater, c. 1720–36Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Seated Woman, by Antoine Watteau, 1716–17
    Seated WomanAntoine Watteau, 1716–17Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. This is a detailed sketch of a lion's head, positioned to show its profile. The drawing features the lion's broad nose, rounded mouth, large eye, and flowing mane. The facial features are depicted with various curves and lines. The sketch is on textured paper with pencil shading creating variations in the background. Handwritten text at the bottom reads "Leone de l'Escalier du capitol."
    Lion's Head from the Capitoline StaircaseAugustin Pajou, 1752/1756Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. A work made of oil on canvas.
    Appenine LandscapeFrançois Le Moyne, c. 1730Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago