Artwork

Title Cartouche for a Map of the Chateau and Village of Le Plessis aux Bois

Title Cartouche for a Map of the Chateau and Village of Le Plessis aux Bois is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Hubert François Gravelot. It dates from 1736 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Executed on laid paper, the drawing combines a central circular inscription with an elaborate surrounding frame of scrolls, foliage and diminutive figures.

In 1736 Hubert‑François Gravelot produced a decorative title cartouche intended to accompany a map of the Château and village of Le Plessis‑aux‑Bois. Executed on laid paper, the drawing combines a central circular inscription with an elaborate surrounding frame of scrolls, foliage and diminutive figures. The composition functions as a visual introduction, framing the cartographic content with a stylised ornamental border.

Subject & Meaning

The central inscription, *Plan du Château et Village du Plessis aux Bois*, identifies the geographic focus of the map that the cartouche would crown. Encircling the text, the ornamental motifs—curved scrolls, leafy sprays and tiny supporters—serve both a decorative purpose and a symbolic one, suggesting order and refinement surrounding the estate’s layout.

Technique & Style

Gravelot employed graphite to outline the design, then incised the lines for transfer onto the laid paper, a method that yields crisp, reproducible outlines. The drawing exemplifies the light, fluid graphic language associated with the Rococo aesthetic, characterised by asymmetrical scrollwork and delicate natural forms, which Gravelot helped introduce to British visual culture.

History & Provenance

Born in Paris in 1699, Gravelot relocated to London in 1732, where his illustrations and engravings played a key role in disseminating Rococo motifs across England. This cartouche, created shortly after his move, reflects his early contribution to British design. The work remains on paper, preserving the original laid‑paper support used for the transfer process.

Artist & collection

Artist

Hubert François Gravelot

Hubert-François Bourguignon, commonly known as Gravelot (26 March 1699 – 20 April 1773), was a French engraver, a famous book illustrator, designer and drawing-master.