Oui, je la connais Traitre, et je connais ton Coeur
1651 to 1700
Medium
red chalk and graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall (approximate): 29.5 x 19.3 cm (11 5/8 x 7 5/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1980.45.640
Art Historical Context
This striking red chalk and graphite drawing by Hubert François Gravelot captures a moment of intense emotion through its evocative French title, "Oui, je la connais Traitre, et je connais ton Coeur" ("Yes, I know her, Traitor, and I know your Heart"). Created between 1651 and 1700, the work belongs to the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art. Measuring approximately 29.5 by 19.3 centimeters on laid paper, it exemplifies the intimate scale often favored for preparatory or independent drawings of the period. Gravelot employs the delicate interplay of red chalk and graphite to co...
About the Artist
Hubert François Gravelot
Hubert-François Bourguignon, known as Gravelot (1699–1773), was a leading French Rococo engraver, illustrator, and designer whose elegant draftsmanship bridged the artistic worlds of France and England. Born in Paris to a tailor, he adopted his pseudonym from a godfather and grew up alongside his elder brother, the geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville. After neglecting studies at the Col...