Artwork
Two Figures with a Mirror
Two Figures with a Mirror is an oil drawing by the Neoclassicist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Two Figures with a Mirror is a drawing executed in transfer tracing on oiled laid paper, featuring a simple, sketch-like composition of two contrasting figures.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts two distinct figures: one standing, dressed in a long gown and holding a hat, and the other seated, winged, and bare-chested, receiving a tray while holding a reflective orb, suggesting symbolic or allegorical themes.
Technique & Style
Characterized by its straightforward and sketchy execution, the drawing's use of transfer tracing on oiled paper contributes to its simple, yet effective, visual appeal.
Context
This work is associated with the Romantic movement, reflecting its emphasis on expressive and often symbolic content.
History & Provenance
Originally attributed to an incorrect medium and artist (oil painting by Jacques-Louis David, 1778), the actual details of this drawing (medium, date, artist) are corrected here as transfer tracing on oiled laid paper, with the artist and exact date unspecified in the provided information.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.
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