Lines and Colors art blog

Fragonard’s drawing for The Sacrifice of Coresus

The Sacrifice of Coresus, Jean-Honore Fragonard, brush and brown wash over chalk
The Sacrifice of Coresus, Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Brush and brown wash, over chalk, roughly 14 x 18 inches (35 x 46 cm). In the Morgan Library and Museum. Use Zoom tab or download link.

Not only has Fragonard worked out his composition, dramatic lighting and value relationships in this beautifully gestural preparatory drawing, he’s captured the faces and emotion of his subjects with a few deft strokes.

The Sacrifice of Coresus, Morgan Library

Comments

2 responses to “Fragonard’s drawing for The Sacrifice of Coresus

  1. what does it mean “over chalk”?

    1. Fragonard sketched out his composition lightly in chalk, then drew the finished rendering over the sketch in brush and ink wash.