Paviljoen van Hercules 1672 - 1686

Louis de Châtillon made this drawing, Paviljoen van Hercules, using pen and brush with grey ink and graphite. Look closely, and you’ll see the hand of a skilled draughtsman at work. Every line is precise and considered. The architectural drawing depicts a pavilion richly adorned with classical motifs. The drawing is highly detailed. Note the intricate scrollwork, the delicate rendering of the figures, and the overall sense of balanced proportion. Châtillon has paid close attention to the weight and texture of the architectural features, imbuing the drawing with a sculptural quality. Drawings like this were crucial in coordinating the many kinds of skilled labor needed to realize a building, from stonecutters to carpenters to sculptors. They stand as testaments to the rich interplay between design and making, and the social systems that made large-scale construction possible. We are reminded that behind every grand structure lies the coordination of collective labor.