The Château de Versailles Seen from the Gardens 1779

Curator: Here we have Louis Nicolas de Lespinasse's, called the Chevalier de Lespinasse's, 1779 watercolor and pencil drawing, "The Château de Versailles Seen from the Gardens," now residing at The Met. What strikes you first about this cityscape? Editor: Well, honestly? It's incredibly tranquil. The soft blues and greys lend this ethereal quality. Despite the size of the Château, there's a lightness that is kind of lovely and balanced, but makes it hard to discern any emotional theme right away. Curator: De Lespinasse created this drawing en plein air. A risky decision considering the aristocracy would probably give it no real thought and the volatile weather, but important nonetheless! He was very invested in accurately capturing the architecture. If you notice, it has soft Rococo colorings to keep it buoyant. The linear perspective also helps your eye get deeper into the work. Editor: The figures bring the scale of the palace into sharp focus. Though it could benefit from more contrast in the buildings for some sharper angles that better defines it overall. They seem genuinely small against the immensity of Versailles, giving one an idea of place within it, so that perspective creates this sense of calm through dominance. What I keep coming back to is the fact that it isn't really showing the building. It shows its place and position. And the color scheme keeps it dream-like. Curator: Exactly, he masterfully balanced structure and light. You’ll see some pencil markings around the structure but nothing out of ordinary for drawings of the era, even to suggest changes to come to his process while creating it in plein air! Notice the tiny dogs chasing each other in the foreground too; capturing simple life with his technical drawing and application of cool watercolors! He wanted people to observe and explore it by foot—even the four-legged companions—bringing it more into reach. Editor: Right, the dogs are full of energy, cutting that serenity and drawing you into this little pocket of activity! A playful inclusion. They don't quite manage to do that, do they? The light just remains a constant hum in my reading. Curator: Absolutely, capturing the human (and canine!) scale in such a grand setting is what makes this work so very charming! It's a perfect little moment! Editor: Agreed, a delicate dance between precision and peaceful contemplation, showcasing the Chateau not just as a monument, but as an integrated element in everyday existence. A worthy study and I may just think of it during the rest of our journey here.