A Chamberlain Holding His Hat in His Right Arm; verso: Inscription 1805 - 1824

Curator: Here we have Jacques-Louis David’s sketch, “A Chamberlain Holding His Hat in His Right Arm,” found at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like catching a glimpse into the artist's process. The gridlines suggest David was meticulously planning the proportions and placement of his figure. Curator: Absolutely. Notice how the chamberlain's attire—the cape and the elaborate hat—speak to his status, echoing the visual language of power. Editor: But there's a fragility here too, in the tentative lines, an openness. It’s more human, somehow. A reminder that even symbols of power can be vulnerable studies on paper. Curator: It’s true, isn’t it? The sketch is a study in contrasts, a dance between power and the subtle uncertainty of creation. Editor: It invites us to consider what we look for in symbols of power. The under-drawing reveals a little bit of what is underneath the symbols we see.