Group of three figures, man and two women 1817

This 1817 lithograph by Baron Dominique Vivant Denon depicts a group of three figures, a man and two women. The man stands behind the seated women, his gaze directed towards the viewer, his hand reaching towards the right woman's shoulder. The women are in a close embrace, their faces drawn together, perhaps in a whispered conversation. The piece is a fine example of the Rococo style, evident in the delicate lines and the emphasis on intimacy and charm. Denon, a prominent French diplomat and art collector, created the work for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remains on display today.