Saturday, June 20, 2015

Seashell

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Seashell
Morgan Library

"This is one of only eight known shell studies by Watteau, generally believed to have been drawn in 1720, when the artist was convalescing at the home of the picture dealer Gersaint, whose private collection included seashells." 

Text is from the Morgan Library description of this supernatural Watteau seashell. The illness suffered by the artist was serious and his convalescence temporary. He died the next year at the age of 36.

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Portrait study of a young woman
Morgan Library

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Study of seated man, back view
Morgan Library

The Watteau drawings at the Morgan  like everything else at the Morgan  are the finest of their kind.  The Watteau drawings at the Rijksmuseum (below) are more abundant

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Woman with veil
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Study of youth with sword-hilt
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Anotine Watteau
Study of seated woman
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Studies of seated woman
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Studies of child and musicians
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Studies of reclining woman
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Study of guitar player
Rijksmuseum

Jean-Antoine Watteau
Studies of women
Rijksmuseum

In 1727, six years after Watteau's death, François Boucher made a posthumous portrait of his artistic predecessor and colleague. 


François Boucher
Portrait of Jean-Antoine Watteau
etching and engraving
1727
Philadelphia Museum of Art