Phidias Contemplating The Three Fates – French Neoclassical School – Late 18th Century

PHIDIAS CONTEMPLATING THE THREE FATES
French Neoclassical School – late 18th / early 19th century
A very fine original drawing in pen, ink, wash, and pastel highlights on paper, depicting Phidias in his studio contemplating the group of the Three Fates.
The famous Greek sculptor is shown seated on the right, barefoot and draped in classical attire, with his elbow resting on his workbench and his hand supporting his face. Sculptor's tools—hammer, chisels, and burins—lie set aside before him, while his gaze is directed toward the group of three female figures standing on a marble pedestal.
The scene thus appears to capture the moment following the creative act: the tool has been laid down, and action gives way to contemplation of the work. The three figures can be identified as the Moirai, or Three Fates—a group traditionally associated with the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, executed under Phidias's direction.
The composition perfectly embodies the Neoclassical taste for Antiquity and the depiction of great artists from the Greek world. The architecture, the drapery, the precision of the figures, and Phidias's meditative air lend this small sheet a particularly refined quality.
The drawing is presented in a remarkable antique "Mariette-style" mount—featuring blue, white, and gold tones, wash borders, and multiple ruled lines—enriched with applied strips of gold paper framing the artwork. This meticulously crafted mount is an integral part of the drawing's presentation.
19th-century gilded wood frame in the Louis XVI style, featuring molded friezes.
Condition: excellent overall condition; the drawing, mount, and frame are all well-preserved.
Dimensions: 13 cm x 8 cm (unframed); 23 cm x 8 cm (framed).