A Gardener and a Gentleman
Medium
pen and brown ink on laid paper, laid down on an old mount
Dimensions
sheet: 15.9 × 16.2 cm (6 1/4 × 6 3/8 in.) mount: 22.5 × 19.7 cm (8 7/8 × 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
2015.161.1
Art Historical Context
Created around 1745, *A Gardener and a Gentleman* is a charming pen-and-ink drawing by Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non, a French clergyman, traveler, and gifted amateur artist. The small sheet captures an everyday encounter between two figures of contrasting social stations, rendered with lively, economical strokes that suggest both observation and gentle wit. At just under seven inches square, the work feels intimate, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a quiet moment in a garden or park. Saint-Non worked primarily in drawing and printmaking, often using brown ink on laid paper to achi...