Original Double-sided Drawing - Ancient Ritual Scene - Ancient Priestess And Greco-roman Altars

Double-sided drawing executed in pen and sepia wash, attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, depicting on the front several studies of Greco-Roman-inspired objects and furnishings, and on the back, an elegant ancient ritual scene.

The front side features various archaeological drawings executed with great precision: domestic altars, incense burners, liturgical objects, and ancient weapons adorned with zoomorphic motifs. These studies reflect the interest of 18th-century Neoclassical artists in ancient decorative arts discovered in Italy following the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The reverse depicts a female figure draped in the classical style performing a ritual before a burning altar decorated with garlands and winged sphinxes. The nobility of the gesture, the rendering of the drapery, and the balance of the composition are directly reminiscent of the Neoclassical models studied by French artists during their stay in Italy.

Attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, this drawing is in the spirit of the sketches and studies he produced during his study trip to Italy around 1770. A student of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, Moitte belonged to a generation deeply fascinated by antiquity and the archaeological research that marked the birth of the neoclassical taste in France.

The double-sided nature of the drawing, as well as the spontaneity of the line, reinforce the lively and documentary character of this rare early study.

Good overall condition with slight signs of age and scattered small foxing spots due to the age of the paper.

23 cm x 30 cm