Gabriel-Jacques de Saint-Aubin

Glued to the left and right margin to the modern backing. Overall in good condition. Some slight and small brown stains and slight surface dirt towards the top margin. Sold mounted and framed in a modern wooden and gilt frame.
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This drawing is related to Saint-Aubin's painting, exhibited under the title Effet du Tremblement de terre de Lisbonne at the Salon of the Academy of St. Luke in 1774 (no. 56), and now lost.  This work was much praised, both in the Almanach historique...des architectes, peintres et sculpteurs of 1776, and also in a biographical text on Saint-Aubin by the artist's brother Charles-Germain.¹  Saint-Aubin seems to have reworked the painting over and over again, almost to the point of destroying it, and it was still with the artist at the time of his death in 1780.² 

The famous earthquake which killed thousands and destroyed almost the whole city of Lisbon, occurred on 1 November 1755.  It was of immense power, and was followed by a major tsunami.  The tragedy had profound repercussions, influencing literature, philosophy and science all over Europe.  Saint-Aubin had an insatiable interest in all aspects of art and science, but he was above all an observer and chronicler of his time;  to him such an event must have struck a powerful emotional chord, and provoked his curiosity and imagination. 

In his vision of the apocalyptic events, as expressed in this drawing, we see a couple fleeing from a crumbling building, just as a large tree is about to collapse on them.  In the foreground some figures have already fallen, the touches executed with the point of the brush and brown wash strengthened the impact and the drama of the scene.  Saint-Aubin aspired to be a history painter, but his great gift was as a draftsman;  according to his brother, he spent his life drawing everything he came across.

¹ E. Dacier, Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, Paris/Brussels 1931, vol. II, p. 110, no. 619

² Ibid., p. 15