Nicolas Lancret (1690–1743) — Two Figure Studies

The sheet, executed in red chalk on both sides, brings together twofigure studies attributed to Nicolas Lancret. On the frontis a reclining hunter, with his legs stretched outand his torso raised: the pose is suggested by aquick sketch, alternating between light strokes andmore pronounced accents. On the reverse is depicted a noblemanleaning forward, rendered through concise linesthat describe his posture and the drapery of his clothing.The different approaches to the two figures make the sheetan interesting testament to the artist’sattention to gesture, the rendering of clothing, and the expressive possibilitiesof red chalk. The Study of a Hunter on thefront can be dated to the late 1720s.The attribution of both drawings toLancret has been confirmed by the scholar MaryTavener Holmes.