Vrouw in wijde toga 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I made this drawing of a woman in a wide toga using pen and paper. The costume and pose reference classical antiquity, and it speaks to the values of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, where Leclerc taught. Founded in 1648, the Academy promoted the idea that art should be governed by reason and order. The classical style was seen as the highest form of art, and artists were encouraged to study the works of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Leclerc, as a professor, played a key role in transmitting these values to the next generation of artists. His drawing would have served as a study aid, providing students with a model for depicting the ideal human form. To understand Leclerc's work fully, we can consult archival sources such as the Academy's records, student drawings, and period treatises on art theory. By examining these materials, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional context in which Leclerc's art was produced.