Artwork
Le Lutrin: A Night Scene with Boirude, Brontin, and L'Amour Surprised by an Owl Flying Out of a Lectern
Le Lutrin: A Night Scene with Boirude, Brontin, and L'Amour Surprised by an Owl Flying Out of a Lectern is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Bernard Picart. It dates from 1718 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1718 by French artist Bernard Picart, *Le Lutrin* is a night scene drawing executed in pen and black ink with gray wash, heightened with white. The work features a dramatic, dimly lit interior with three men and a surprising owl, set against detailed architectural elements and a bordered frame.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts three 18th-century dressed men, one holding a candle, startled by an owl emerging from a lectern on a central table. The subject may allude to a narrative or allegory, though specifics are unclear; the emphasis lies in capturing the surprise and interplay of light and shadow.
Technique & Style
Picart utilized pen and black ink with gray wash, adding highlights with white. The drawing features indented lines for potential transfer, a blackened verso, and a separate bordered sheet. The style blends precision with expressive shading, characteristic of Baroque attention to dramatic lighting.
History & Provenance
Originally created in Amsterdam around 1718, the drawing reflects Picart's interest in documenting human practices, though its specific inspiration or subsequent ownership history is not detailed here.
Context
*Le Lutrin* can be contextualized within the Baroque movement, known for dramatic lighting and intense emotions. Picart's work often explored cultural and religious themes, suggesting this piece may touch on similar, if unspecified, subjects.
Legacy
While *Le Lutrin*'s direct influence is not outlined, it contributes to Picart's broader legacy as a documenter of human customs through precise and dramatically lit illustrations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernard Picart or Picard (11 June 1673 – 8 May 1733), was a French draughtsman, engraver, and book illustrator in Amsterdam, who showed an interest in cultural and religious habits.
