Study for The Oath of the Tennis Court: Bailly Standing on the Desk, Asking for a Vote c. 1791

This is a preparatory drawing by Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine for his famous painting *The Oath of the Tennis Court*, depicting the historical event in which French representatives of the Third Estate took an oath to not disband until a new constitution was established. This drawing, created in 1791, focuses on the figure of Bailly, standing on a desk and calling for a vote. The drawing is part of a larger series of preparatory studies that Norblin made for the painting, which is now in the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. The drawing captures the energy and drama of the event, with figures in various poses, their expressions conveying a sense of urgency and determination. *Study for The Oath of the Tennis Court: Bailly Standing on the Desk, Asking for a Vote* is a significant work of art, providing insights into the creative process of an important historical painting and the events of the French Revolution.