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The Old Savoyard

The Old Savoyard by Jean Antoine Watteau

Medium

Red and black chalk on cream laid paper

Dimensions

35.9 × 22.1 cm (14 3/16 × 8 3/4 in.)

Classification

chalk

Department

Prints and Drawings

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

20432

Rights

Public Domain

About this artwork

The Flemish-born artist Jean-Antoine Watteau deviated from his acclaimed scenes of courtly figures in park-like settings (called fêtes galantes) with this arresting and naturalistic chalk drawing of a humble Savoyard. This elderly vagabond from the Savoy region of France was one of many peasants who, around the turn of the eighteenth century, flocked to Paris, where they tried to eke out livings as chimney sweeps, scavengers, or street entertainers. This old entertainer’s props accompany him: a ...

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