Charity
ca. 1646–50
Medium
Red chalk
Dimensions
Height: 8 9/16 in. (21.8 cm) Width: 7 3/8 in. (18.8 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Harriet and Cyril Mazansky, 2021
Accession Number
2021.372
Art Historical Context
Charles Le Brun's *Charity*, created around 1646–50, is a delicate red chalk drawing that captures the essence of one of the three theological virtues. Measuring just 8 9/16 × 7 3/8 inches, this intimate work exemplifies Le Brun's early mastery during his formative years in Rome, where he absorbed the grandeur of classical antiquity and the dramatic flair of the Baroque style. As a rising star in 17th-century French art, Le Brun would later become the preeminent painter at Louis XIV's court and of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, blending Italian influences with French classicism. ...
About the Artist
Charles Le Brun · 1619–1690
Charles Le Brun (1619–1690) was the most powerful artistic figure in seventeenth-century France, serving as the virtual dictator of official taste during the reign of Louis XIV and shaping the visual identity of the French Baroque in ways that resonated for generations. Born in Paris, he trained under the painter Simon Vouet before traveling to Rome in 1642, where he studied the works of Nicolas P...