Original Double-sided Drawing – Cleopatra And Antique Figures – Greco-roman Furniture

A double-sided drawing executed in pen and sepia wash, attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, depicting on the front two figures inspired by antiquity and, on the back, several studies of Greco-Roman furniture and ornamentation.

The front features a reclining female figure identified as Cleopatra, as well as an elegant draped caryatid resting on an architectural base. The delicate rendering of the drapery, the purity of the lines, and the balance of the proportions reflect the neoclassical taste developed by French artists following the Italian archaeological discoveries.

The reverse side features several decorative studies: an altar or architectural niche containing an ancient figure, a suspended incense burner, furniture with clawed feet, and an ornamental composition featuring facing eagles. These sketches evoke the sketchbooks created during travels to Italy to document ancient forms intended to inspire future monumental and decorative compositions.

Attributed to Jean-Guillaume Moitte, this sheet is part of the major “return to Antiquity” movement that characterized the second half of the 18th century.

A student of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, Moitte spent several years in Italy, where he studied monuments, sculptures, and ancient objects in the spirit of nascent Neoclassicism.

The double-sided nature of the drawing, along with the spontaneity of the lines, reinforce the lively and documentary character of this rare historical study.

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

23 cm x 30 cm