Basin Supported by Sphinxes

David employs a delicate gray wash to model volume, while red chalk outlines define the main contours. Subtle shifts of tone create a soft chiaroscuro, allowing the forms to emerge from the paper without harsh line work. The overall effect is ethereal, giving the drawing a slightly ghostly presence that emphasizes design over surface texture.

Created in the late 1770s, the drawing belongs to David’s early period, when he was exploring classical themes and decorative projects. It has remained in the artist’s oeuvre as a study for a larger design, though no corresponding three‑dimensional object is known. The work entered a public collection in the 20th century, where it is catalogued among his preparatory sketches.

The drawing reflects the neoclassical fascination with antiquity that dominated French art in the years preceding the Revolution. Sphinxes, drawn from Egyptian and Greek iconography, were popular decorative elements in furniture and interior design, and David’s rendering demonstrates his engagement with contemporary tastes for mythic ornamentation.