Study for a Garden Capriccio
Medium
Red chalk over black chalk underdrawing.
Dimensions
10 3/8 x 7 1/2 in. (26.4 x 19.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward Pearce Casey Fund, 1985
Accession Number
1985.1116.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing by Gilles-Marie Oppenord captures the playful spirit of an eighteenth-century garden capriccio, an imaginary architectural fantasy. Created in red chalk over a black chalk underdrawing, the work reveals the artist’s process as he explored whimsical arrangements of buildings, classical ruins, and lively figures within a lush outdoor setting. The layered chalk technique allows for both precise architectural details and softer, atmospheric effects, giving the scene a sense of depth and movement on the small sheet. Tags indicate the presence of fauns and human figures among ...
About the Artist
Gilles-Marie Oppenord · 1672–1742
Born 27 July 1672; died 13 March 1742. French architect, designer, illustrator, Paris. Comment on works: Architect; Draughtsman; Engraver