François I Brandishing a Sword

Fragonard employs a bold, gestural line to define the king’s attire and sword, while the background is reduced to minimal, sweeping strokes that imply interior space or battlefield without detail. This economy of form creates a dramatic focus on the central figure, characteristic of his narrative drawing approach.

Created as a preparatory design, the sheet was likely intended for inclusion in a book or print series on French history, a common practice among artists of the period. The drawing now resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it contributes to the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century historical illustration.