Louis de Boullogne the Younger

With Charles E. Slatkin Galleries, New York

There are some light creases across the centre of the sheet, from the paper-making process. The blue of the paper has faded somewhat, except at the edges of the sheet. One or two very tiny stains towards top. Chalk very fresh. Sold in a modern gilt wood frame.
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This is a characteristic academy study by the artist, in which he concentrates on the torso, head and left arm, leaving the rest of the figure only roughly indicated.  Louis de Boullogne was a long serving and much loved teacher at the Academy where he placed great emphasis on drawing from the model.  A portfolio of his academy studies appeared on the market in the 1950s when it was dismembered.  It is probable the present study came from that group.  Almost every one of his drawings bears his monogram, in chalk or in ink. 

For a discussion of the large collection of his drawings in the Louvre, together with quotations from his admiring pupils, see Hélène Guicharnaud, Louis de Boullonge, exhib. cat., Paris, Louvre, 2011.