Marquis de Pérignon, Maréchal de France, Holding the Pillow for Charlemagne's Scepter; verso: blank 1805 - 1824

Editor: Here we see a pencil sketch by Jacques-Louis David, "Marquis de Pérignon, Maréchal de France, Holding the Pillow for Charlemagne's Scepter." It's a figure study, quite spare. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Notice how David uses the grid to constrain and control the figure, reflecting the strict social hierarchies of the time. But the figure also seems to subtly resist this imposed order. What do you make of that tension? Editor: That's fascinating. It's like the individual finding ways to express agency even within a rigid structure. Curator: Exactly. Think about the French Revolution brewing beneath the surface. This sketch becomes a commentary on power, duty, and the individual's role within a changing society. It is so much more than just a study of a man.