Ludovico Marchetti - Before The Tournament - Drawing

Ludovico MARCHETTI (1853-1909)
Before the Tournament
1878
Pen and ink wash drawing with white gouache highlights on cream wove paper
20.1×35.4 cm (subject) / 37.5x52.5 cm framed
Anti-UV, anti-reflective glass
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This drawing is a replica by Ludovico Marchetti of the painting he presented at the Universal Exhibition of 1878, Before the Tournament, reproduced in Gazette des beaux-arts[1]. Teeming with characters and details, the work was highly appreciated by critics, who considered it well composed and "to be ranked among the most sparkling paintings of the Italian exhibition"[2].
Specializing in genre, historical and contemporary scenes, Ludovico Marchetti worked in particular for the dealer Goupil and for the illustrated press. The Château de Blois provided the setting for many of his compositions, including Réception au château de Blois, recorded in 1886 in Goupil's account books[3], as well as Cour d'honneur du château de Blois and Colonnade Louis XII, au château de Blois, presented at the Universal Exhibition of 1889. In February 1888, he also provided Paris illustré with several views of the château, including one of the fireplace decorated with the initials of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany[4] which appears on the left side of this drawing.

[1] Paul Lefort, "Exposition universelle. Les écoles étrangères de peinture (suite)", Gazette des beaux-arts, July 1, 1878, p. 405.
[2] Ibid., p. 406.
[3] Goupil Stock Book 11, Page 163, Row 7, Stock No. 17918, available at http://hdl.handle.net/10020/900239_FL1681301
[4] HB, “The Chateau of Blois. II” Paris Illustré, February 18, 1888, p. 99.