Charity

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. Rendered in sanguine red chalk—a favored medium for its warm, flesh-like tones and subtle gradations—this drawing likely served as a preparatory study, showcasing Le Brun's skill in modeling forms with soft hatching and contour lines. Red chalk allowed artists like him to achieve lifelike volume and emotional depth, making it ideal for figure studies that informed grand history paintings. The theme of Charity, often depicted as a nurturing maternal figure, reflects the era's emphasis on moral and religious allegory amid the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Recently gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department by Harriet and Cyril Mazansky in 2021, this gem invites visitors to appreciate the quiet brilliance behind Le Brun's monumental works, bridging the sketchbook to the canvas.

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...