Seated Gentleman

About this artwork

In the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,-Louis David's *Seated Gentleman* (. 1810) offers a glimpse into the preparatory world of one of Neoclassicism's greatest masters. David, a pivotal figure in late 18th- and early 19th-century French, championed a style rooted in ancient Greek and Roman ideals—precise, heroic, and intellectually rigorous. 1810, amid theonic era, he had transitioned from revolutionary history paintings like *The Death of Marat* to refined portraits of the elite, capturing the poised dignity of his subjects. This intimate drawing, executed in black chalk on paper (9 1/16 x 6 15/16 in.), reveals David's meticulous process. The subtle squaring grid across the sheet indicates it was prepared for transfer to a larger canvas, a technique he favored to proportional accuracy in final oil paintings. The seated male figure, rendered with fluid yet lines, exudes calm authority, highlighting David's skill in conveying character through posture and shadow. As a rare surviving study, *Seated Gentleman* underscores the artist's blend of technical precision and classical restraint, bridging his revolutionary past and imperial present. Visitors will appreciate how such drawings humanize the grand narratives David immortalized, inviting us to ponder the everyday elegance behind his monumental works.