Pierre Fontaine - Four Studies Based On Statues From The Vatican

Pierre Fontaine (1762-1853) Four Studies After Statues in the Vatican.

Black, gray, and brown wash drawings over black chalk lines, mounted on a single sheet.

A leading architect, draftsman, and theorist, Pierre Fontaine (1762-1853) formed, with Charles Percier, the founding duo of the Empire style, which profoundly influenced the aesthetics of decorative arts and architecture under Napoleon I. Winner of the Grand Prix de Rome, he resided at the Villa Medici, where he developed a profound knowledge of Antiquity, resulting in a substantial body of graphic work devoted to ancient monuments and sculptures.

His rigorous line, archaeological precision, and sense of composition make him one of the most refined interpreters of the Neoclassical vocabulary. This sheet brings together four meticulous studies executed after sculptures housed in the Vatican, illustrating Pierre Fontaine's erudite eye and graphic precision.

Each study highlights the artist's keen sense of sculptural volume, drapery, and gesture, characteristic of late 18th-century artists' observation of classical antiquities. The two upper studies, executed in black and gray wash, depict draped male figures captured in solemn and measured poses.

The reserved modeling, reinforced by a heavy wash in the shadows, subtly recreates the sculptural power of the originals while revealing the artist's mastery in interpreting the effects of light on the folds of the garment. The lower left sheet presents a nude male figure, draped at the waist, captured in the act of extending his arm. The black chalk treatment, combined with a discreet wash, accentuates the focus of the modeling on the anatomy and the dynamism of the pose.

On the right, a standing female figure, rendered in brown wash, stands out against an architectural background. Fontaine displays a particularly elegant sense of composition: the drapery, supple and abundant, is enlivened by plays of light and shadow that accentuate the statuesque verticality of the model.

A harmonious and representative example of his practice of studying antiquity, this mount testifies to Pierre Fontaine's academic training and his enduring interest in the masterpieces of classical sculpture, rendered in their entirety with a precision and sensitivity characteristic of his style.

Mount dimensions: 42 × 26.7 cm.
Provenance: Pierre Fontaine's studio collection - Thierry de Maigret sale, November 2025