Who painted Le Scélérat Damiens?

Le Scélérat Damiens was painted by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin in 1757.

Where can I see Le Scélérat Damiens?

Le Scélérat Damiens is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Le Scélérat Damiens?

Le Scélérat Damiens is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Le Scélérat Damiens

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin , 1757

Le Scélérat Damiens is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gabriel de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin’s 1757 etching, titled *Le Scélérat Damiens*, presents a portrait‑like study of a male figure. Executed on laid paper with a faint grid texture, the image concentrates on the subject’s face and shoulders, rendered in a dense network of intersecting lines that convey a sense of agitation and immediacy.

Subject & Meaning

The work’s title translates as “The Villain Damiens,” referring to the historical figure Robert-François Damiens, notorious for his attempted assassination of Louis XV in 1757. By foregrounding the man’s turbulent visage, Saint‑Aubin emphasizes the psychological tension associated with the condemned conspirator, inviting viewers to contemplate notions of guilt and notoriety.

Technique & Style

Saint‑Aubin employed traditional etching methods, incising a metal plate with acid to create a layered line structure. The artist’s hand is evident in the swirling, restless marks that build tonal depth through cross‑hatching. The textured laid paper enhances the visual density, allowing shadows to emerge from the accumulation of fine, tangled strokes.

History & Provenance

Created the same year as Damiens’ execution, the print reflects contemporary interest in the event. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece has been documented in several 19th‑century French print collections, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of the period’s graphic art.