Fragments choisis dans les Peintures et les Tableaux les plus interessants des Palais et des Eglises d'Italie 1740 - 1791

Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non created this sepia wash and pen-and-ink drawing, titled "Fragments choisis dans les Peintures et les Tableaux les plus interessants des Palais et des Eglises d'Italie," at an unknown date. Saint-Non lived through an era of significant social change, witnessing the Enlightenment, the decline of the aristocracy, and the stirrings of revolution. This drawing is a meditation on war and peace, reflecting the artist's engagement with the sociopolitical tensions of his time. In the upper portion, a winged figure trumpets while holding an olive branch, and above this, a dove flies, both symbols associated with peace. Below, the scene shifts dramatically to the ravages of conflict, where a grieving woman and child sit amongst ruins, and a figure lies prostrate on the ground. Saint-Non’s composition juxtaposes the idealized with the grim realities of war, a contrast meant to provoke reflection on the human cost of conflict. It draws from the narratives of classical and biblical art while also speaking to the immediate concerns of a society on the cusp of upheaval. The emotional weight of the piece lies in its portrayal of suffering, reminding us of war's profound impact on individuals and communities.