Blondel and Richard Coeur de Lion
1826
Medium
Graphite on cream wove paper, laid down on gray wove paper
Dimensions
13.1 × 11.1 cm (5 3/16 × 4 3/8 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
114703
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings department of the Institute of Chicago sits a delicate graphite drawing titled *Blondel and Richard Coeur de Lion*, created by British artist Mary Trevor in 1826. This intimate work, measuring just 13.1 × 11.1 cm, captures a poignant moment from medieval legend: the troubadour Blondel discovering his imprisoned king, Richard the Lionheart, by singing a secret song outside the castle walls. Rendered on cream wove paper and laid down on gray wove for preservation, it exemplifies the fine detail possible in early 19th-century sketching. Trevor's choice of graphite—a ve...