Full-Length Study of Cardinal Fesch; verso: blank page 1805 - 1806

Curator: Here we have Jacques-Louis David's "Full-Length Study of Cardinal Fesch," a preparatory sketch rendered in graphite. Editor: There’s a somber, almost ghostly quality to it, isn't there? The figure seems to emerge from the page itself. Curator: The hatching technique really gives that impression. David's known for his Neoclassical precision, but here, you see the dynamism of the preparatory process. Editor: Yes, you can see the angles, the lines creating dimension. It’s fascinating how the draped fabric almost has a life of its own. Curator: Absolutely. And this Cardinal Fesch, he was Napoleon's uncle. David painted him elsewhere, so this may have been an early study, exploring the nuances of pose and expression. Editor: To feel this close to David's process, seeing a glimpse of the raw creation, is quite special. Curator: Indeed. It allows a different insight into both the artist and his subject.