Project for the House and Gardens of Mlle. Guimard
Medium
pen and black ink with gray wash and watercolor over graphite on laid paper, with a color etching by Le Campion attached to the sheet at lower right
Dimensions
overall: 49 x 38.6 cm (19 5/16 x 15 3/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Gertrude Laughlin Chanler
Accession Number
2000.9.26
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century Paris, *Project for the House and Gardens of Mlle. Guimard* (c. 1768–1770) captures the grandeur envisioned for the residence of the celebrated ballerina Marie Madeleine Guimard. Created by architects Jean Testard and Charles-Philippe Campion de Tersan (with a color etching by Le Campion), this intricate drawing proposes a lavish estate blending architectural elegance with landscaped gardens, reflecting the era's shift from Rococo exuberance toward Neoclassical restraint during the late Louis XV period. Executed in pen and black ink with gray wash and wate...