Francis I and the Duchess d'Étampes n.d.

Richard Parkes Bonington made this watercolor, ‘Francis I and the Duchess d'Étampes’ sometime in the 1820s. The composition is divided into zones of light and shadow, a stage-like space where figures in historical costume are assembled. To the left is a woman seated, adorned in a golden gown, while to the right, two men are caught in conversation. The arrangement of Bonington’s figures, their placement and grouping in the picture plane, are all carefully constructed. The use of watercolor allows for the layering of translucent washes, building up depth and luminosity in the fabrics and skin tones. It creates an aesthetic tension between the figures and setting as the artist explores themes of power, class, and gender through an emphasis on form and material. Consider how Bonington uses the formal elements of line, color, and composition to create an emotional and intellectual experience. The semiotic signs, historical references, and aesthetic qualities are not fixed, but offer a dynamic arena for interpretation.