Figuurstudie voor Clovis 1736 - 1737

Charles-Joseph Natoire created this figure study for Clovis with a pencil on paper. The drawing presents a composition of loosely sketched lines, primarily in muted grays, that define the contours of a figure and a horse. The visible, unblended pencil strokes give the sketch a sense of immediacy. The composition, though incomplete, is structured around implied volumes and directional lines. Natoire uses hatching and cross-hatching to suggest depth, particularly in the drapery and the figure's face. This technique, combined with the strategic use of negative space, guides the viewer’s eye through the artwork. The figure is rendered with anatomical attention. The incomplete nature of the sketch invites us to consider the process of artistic creation. In this work Natoire seems less concerned with final presentation and more interested in exploring form and proportion. The subtle tonal variations and the unfinished quality underscore the artwork’s function as a study, revealing the artist's thought process.