An Artist Adoring a Statue of Virtue
Medium
Watercolor and gouache, over black chalk, on ivory laid paper, laid down on off-white laid paper
Dimensions
Primary support: 40.8 × 27.7 cm (16 1/8 × 10 15/16 in.); Secondary support: 47.5 × 34 cm (18 3/4 × 13 7/16 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
136938
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings department of the Art Institute of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Hoin *An Artist Adoring a of Virtue* (178) captivates with its exquisite scale. Crafted in watercolor and gouache over chalk on ivory laid paper—measuring just 40.8 × 27.7 cm—this work exemplifies the refined techniques of late 18th-century Frenchsmanship. The luminous ivory support enhances the jewel-like translucency of the pigments, a hallmark of miniature painting prized by collectors for its portability and intimacy. The allegorical scene depicts an artist in reverent pose before a classical statue embod...