Rare original and preparatory drawing for a ceiling project, titled "Peace Driving Out Discord" by Jean Lepautre (attributed to) circa 1650-1655, pen and brown ink on paper.
The completed project for this ceiling was made into an engraving, one copy of which is held at the BNF (Bibliothèque nationale de France), Department of Prints and Photography, Hd 7a, 4°, fol. 7. It was also published in the reference work "Peupler les cieux - Les plafonds parisiens au XVIIème siècle", Louvre Editions.
Jean Lepautre (Paris, 1618 - Paris, 1682), sculptor, medallist, and engraver, is particularly known for his works related to ornamental sculpture. He worked closely with the greatest architects of his time (Louis Le Vau, Charles Le Brun) to decorate palaces and churches. His works helped define and spread French Classicism.
Our drawing is a draft of the ceiling project titled "Peace Driving Out Discord." According to one of the authors of the aforementioned book, "This decorative project perfectly illustrates Lepautre's style, both in the delicacy of the engravings and in the richness and abundance of the ornamental vocabulary."
Rare and beautiful archival document.
Dimensions of the drawing: 17.5 cm x 12.5 cm
In a black frame: approx. 32 cm x 27 cm.