La Sagesse
Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard (French, 1781–1850)
late 18th- early 19th century
Medium
Graphite, pen and black ink, and gray and black washes
Dimensions
sheet: 39.4 × 27.8 cm · secondary support: 39.6 × 28 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of Muriel Butkin
Accession Number
2018.47
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
male
About this artwork
Fragonard’s grisaille drawing portrays a sculpted personification of Wisdom, identified by the inscription “Sagesse” along her forehead. She is seated on a stone throne, decorated with two other female personifications on either side. Characterized as a righteous woman, Wisdom lifts her right arm in an authoritative gesture while clutching her traditional attribute, a crown of stars, in her other hand.