Study for Plate 7 of Bouchardon's "Premier livre de vases" 1710 - 1762

Edme Bouchardon created this drawing, "Study for Plate 7 of Bouchardon's 'Premier livre de vases'," using pen and black ink, with gray wash and graphite, at an unknown date. The drawing presents a symmetrical design for an ornamental vase, set against a neutrally toned backdrop. The artist uses hatching and shading to define the three-dimensional form of the vase. This technique creates a sense of depth. The vase itself is elaborately decorated with sculpted details, including a grotesque mask and crossed spears. These elements might signify power and protection within the visual vocabulary typical of Bouchardon's era. The composition is carefully balanced. However, the smaller, fainter sketch of the same vase at the bottom introduces a subtle disjunction. The primary image presents an idealized form while the sketch suggests a more tentative or exploratory mode. This contrast invites the viewer to consider the process of design and the relationship between ideal and actual form.