Maréchal Lefebvre, Nude Except for Plumed Hat, Holding the Sword of Charlemagne; verso: blank 1805 - 1824

Editor: This sketch by Jacques-Louis David, titled *Maréchal Lefebvre, Nude Except for Plumed Hat, Holding the Sword of Charlemagne*, is fascinating. It’s a pencil drawing, quite small, and feels almost… theatrical. What do you make of it? Curator: Notice how David uses the accoutrements of power – the plumed hat, the sword of Charlemagne – to evoke a lineage of leadership. He strips away the clothing, presenting Lefebvre as both vulnerable and powerful, reminding us that symbols are deeply tied to identity. Editor: So, the symbols create a tension? Curator: Precisely. The sword and hat attempt to ennoble, but the nudity lays bare the human beneath, sparking a dialogue about the very nature of authority. What stays with you? Editor: I see now how the symbols are so important in the absence of context, giving meaning to the figure. Thanks!