Floor plan

Style galleriesThe French eighteenth century

The French eighteenth century

Chalk drawing with red and black shading of man carrying crate and pack.
Portrait of the Marquise d'Aguirandes, by François Hubert Drouais, 1759
Portrait of a Woman as Diana, by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1752
A pale-skinned man sits facing our left as he plays a harp while turning his face to smile at us in this vertical portrait painting. He looks out the corners of his light blue eyes under arched, gray brows. He has a rounded nose, pale pink lips, and a round face. Gray hair is brushed back from his high forehead and curls around his ears. His long fingers rest on the strings of the harp, and the ends of strings curl like wind-loosened strands of hair along the top edge. The man wears a pale mauve-purple cravat, and his snow-white, long-sleeved chemise is untucked and loose around his thighs. The cuff we see is open and folded back over a bright white shirt edged with lace. His dusky rose-pink breeches are unbuttoned at the knee over white stockings. The square-seated chair on which he sits is carved with garlands and floral patterns, which are gilded gold. The seat itself is topaz blue, and it has a low back. A similarly ornamented and gilded table along the back of the room holds a portfolio and roll of papers, the tooled and gilded spines of books, and a statuette to the right. The pale pinkish-orange statuette shows a woman holding a tablet and wearing a long, loose robe and head covering. Her body angles to our left and she looks off in that direction. The wall behind the table is mottled with smoky shades of gray and tan.
A work made of red chalk, with stumping, on tan laid paper.
Broken Eggs, by Jean Baptiste Greuze, 1756
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."

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

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

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. 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
  3. Portrait of a Woman as Diana, by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1752
    Portrait of a Woman as DianaJean-Marc Nattier, 1752Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

First room, south wall

  1. A pale-skinned man sits facing our left as he plays a harp while turning his face to smile at us in this vertical portrait painting. He looks out the corners of his light blue eyes under arched, gray brows. He has a rounded nose, pale pink lips, and a round face. Gray hair is brushed back from his high forehead and curls around his ears. His long fingers rest on the strings of the harp, and the ends of strings curl like wind-loosened strands of hair along the top edge. The man wears a pale mauve-purple cravat, and his snow-white, long-sleeved chemise is untucked and loose around his thighs. The cuff we see is open and folded back over a bright white shirt edged with lace. His dusky rose-pink breeches are unbuttoned at the knee over white stockings. The square-seated chair on which he sits is carved with garlands and floral patterns, which are gilded gold. The seat itself is topaz blue, and it has a low back. A similarly ornamented and gilded table along the back of the room holds a portfolio and roll of papers, the tooled and gilded spines of books, and a statuette to the right. The pale pinkish-orange statuette shows a woman holding a tablet and wearing a long, loose robe and head covering. Her body angles to our left and she looks off in that direction. The wall behind the table is mottled with smoky shades of gray and tan.
    Ange Laurent de La Live de JullyJean Baptiste Greuze, probably 1759Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. A work made of red chalk, with stumping, on tan laid paper.
    Seated Male NudeFrançois Le Moyne, n.d.Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Broken Eggs, by Jean Baptiste Greuze, 1756
    Broken EggsJean Baptiste Greuze, 1756Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  4. 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

Second room, south wall

  1. A work made of oil on canvas.
    The White TableclothJean Siméon Chardin, c. 1731–32Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. Study of a Shepherd, 1700s
    Study of a ShepherdUnrecorded French maker, 1700sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. Portrait of Cardinal Guillaume Dubois, by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1723
    Portrait of Cardinal Guillaume DuboisHyacinthe Rigaud, 1723Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Second room, north wall

  1. Seated Woman, by Antoine Watteau, 1716–17
    Seated WomanAntoine Watteau, 1716–17Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The image shows a sketch of an architectural scene with structures lining a road or pathway. The horizon is not clearly defined, and the sketch focuses on architectural details. The drawing features loose, freehand lines outlining buildings and trees, with classical elements like columns and entablatures. The color palette is monochromatic, with light parchment and dark ink strokes creating contrast. Close-up details are lightly shaded for depth, while distant details are less defined. The composition is open and airy, emphasizing architectural features over precision.
    Ancient Ruins on the Bank of the TiberAugustin Pajou, 1752/1756Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. 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
  4. A man wearing loose, ivory-white clothing stands flanked by two groups of people in this horizontal painting. All the people have pale or peachy skin except for one person, who may have a brown mask. The man in the center, representing the character Pierrot, stands facing us with his hands by his sides. He has slightly bulging eyes, a bulbous nose, ruddy cheeks, and his full pink lips slightly smile. He wears a straw hat pushed back on his high forehead and a narrow ruffled collar around his neck. His shirt has long, voluminous sleeves and a row of small white buttons down the front. The pants are baggy and end abruptly above his white-stockinged ankles over white slippers. The fabric seems to have a sheen. In the shallow space behind him, a stone wall curves toward us to either side of a doorway that leads to a park-like setting. A crimson-red curtain is pulled to our right. Pierrot stands on the top of two steps, and the people to either side are arranged along the stage or the step that runs close to the bottom edge of the canvas. A spray of white flowers drapes down the front of the steps to our right of center. The group to our left has eight men, women, and children. Closest to us and in the lower left corner, a young man wearing a tomato-red jester’s costume trimmed with bells sits on the steps as he twists and looks back at the scene behind him. He holds a scepter or puppet in the shape of a doll-like jester. Two children gather at his feet. One weaves stems of white flowers together, and the other looks at us, smiling. Just above them another cleanshaven young man sits holding a lute in his lap. He wears a brick-red coat, brown breeches, and slate-blue stockings over crossed legs. He leans back and looks up and to our left, his round cheeks flushed. At the back of this group, two people wear tan-colored costumes covered in muted green and pink diamond shapes, and one might wear a brown mask. That person’s pink lips, black mustache and eyebrows, and black dots for eyes appear painted onto a hard, molded surface. The group of six people to our right stand on the same level as Pierrot. At the front of that group, a heavyset young man wears a gold-colored costume trimmed with black and a waist-length, Wedgewood-blue cape. He faces us but looks to our right as he leans back with one arm extended toward Pierrot. Beyond him are two woman and another person shown only from the neck up. The woman closest to Pierrot wears a pewter-gray gown with a scooped neckline. To the right of the man in gold is an old man with a long beard, wearing a black skullcap and cloak. He leans on a short staff and turns his head to look at the group. The last person on the far right is shown from the neck up and stands before the red curtain hanging from the upper right.
    The Italian ComediansAntoine Watteau, probably 1720Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Third room, north wall

  1. 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
  2. Mezzetin, by Antoine Watteau, ca. 1718–20
    MezzetinAntoine Watteau, ca. 1718–20Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art