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Mrs. Douglas Williams
Shore Road
Cold Spring Harbor
Long Island
New York

November 25, 1959

8555   David, Jacques-Louis (1748-1825)
"Roman Square with Temple and Campanile"
Pen and Chinese ink wash
6-3/4 x 10-1/4"

A bright sun illuminates an open square, with a Roman temple and a campanile rising above trees at the left, and at the right the simple facades of more modest buildings. The scene is studied with considerable detail, in a free, clear wash defined with pen. In view of the extremely limited number of landscape drawings by David, this one is of particular importance not only in its size, but also in its revelation of this little known aspect of his genius.
This drawing stems from Album Factice #10. Twelve such Albums were included in the two David Atelier Sales in 1826 and 1835. This particular Album #10 was purchased in 1835 by M. Chassagnolles, David's grandson. At his death it passed on to the Marquise de Ludre another descendant of the artist. It was acquired by us directly from the latter's heirs. The drawing bears the two monograms "J.D." and "E.D." affixed by David's sons Jules and Eugene for the David Atelier Sale of 1826. (Lugt #1437 and #839). Furthermore, on the mount of this drawing is a rubber stamp mark "A 10" applied by us for further identification.
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