Saint Bernard presenting the host to Guillaume X, duc de Guyenne 1645 - 1714

Sébastien Leclerc I created this drawing, Saint Bernard presenting the host to Guillaume X, duc de Guyenne, using pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash on paper. The composition is sharply divided. On the left, a group of ecclesiastics stands in formal, almost regimented lines. To the right, the scene erupts into chaos with figures flailing and collapsing. Leclerc uses line to define form, but also to convey a sense of movement and emotional intensity. The architecture in the background creates depth. It serves almost as a stage set for the drama unfolding in the foreground. The tonal variations, achieved through the brown and gray washes, give volume to the figures and architectural elements, enhancing the spatial relationships. Leclerc’s strategic use of line and wash creates a dynamic visual narrative, capturing a moment of intense spiritual and physical transformation. The drawing illustrates how art can destabilize established meanings and categories.