Artwork

Corner of a Drawing Room

Corner of a Drawing Room, by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, crayon, 1752
Corner of a Drawing Room, by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, crayon, 1752

Corner of a Drawing Room is a crayon drawing by the Baroque artist Gabriel de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Corner of a Drawing Room is a 1752 drawing by French artist Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin. Executed with black crayon on laid paper, the work records an interior architectural fragment. The composition captures a corner of a room, emphasizing the spatial relationship between walls, columns, a doorway and a window.

Subject & Meaning

The sketch depicts a corner defined by ornate stonework, with fluted columns topped by scroll‑like capitals. To the right an arched doorway opens, and above it a window with a modest ledge is visible. The drawing functions as a visual study of interior space and decorative detail, likely intended as a reference for a larger composition.

Technique & Style

Saint‑Aubin employed a single black crayon, producing swift, gestural lines that outline the architectural forms without extensive shading. The rough, yet decisive strokes convey volume and perspective, characteristic of 18th‑century French drawing practices that valued immediacy and observational accuracy over finished polish.

History & Provenance

Created in 1752, the drawing belongs to Saint‑Aubin’s extensive body of architectural and genre studies. It remains in a public collection, where it is cited as an example of the artist’s preparatory work for interior scenes, reflecting his interest in documenting contemporary French interiors.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Gabriel de Saint-Aubin

Artist

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin was a French draftsman, printmaker, etcher and painter.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.