Design for a Scene in de Laujon's "L'Amoureux de quinze ans, ou la Double-Fête..."

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing by Hubert François Gravelot, a leading French rococo artist of the 18th century, serves as a preparatory design for a scene in Charles de Laujon's comedic play *L'Amoureux de quinze ans, ou la Double-Fête* ("The 15-Year-Old Lover, or the Double Celebration"). Created with pen and brown ink accented by brown chalk, the small-scale work (just over 4 by 3 inches) captures an intimate moment likely involving lovers—men and women in playful, amorous entanglement—evoking the lighthearted romantic intrigues popular in French theater of the Enlightenment era. Gravelot, known for his elegant illustrations and stage designs in Paris and London, infused such works with the rococo's graceful curves, wit, and sensuality. The artwork's historical significance lies in its glimpse into 18th-century theatrical production, where artists like Gravelot bridged fine art and performance. These designs guided set painters and costumers, bringing to life the era's fashionable comedies that celebrated youth, love, and social satire amid the opulent courts of Louis XV. The mixed-media technique—precise ink lines softened by chalk—allowed for quick yet refined sketches, highlighting Gravelot's mastery in conveying movement and emotion on a miniature canvas. Acquired through the Fletcher Fund in 1944, this gem from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection invites visitors to appreciate the artistry behind the curtain, revealing how rococo flair animated the stage's romantic escapades.

About the Artist

Hubert François Gravelot · 1699–1773

Hubert-François Bourguignon, known as Gravelot (1699–1773), was a leading French Rococo engraver, illustrator, and designer whose elegant draftsmanship bridged the artistic worlds of France and England. Born in Paris to a tailor, he adopted his pseudonym from a godfather and grew up alongside his elder brother, the geographer Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville. After neglecting studies at the Col...