Fantastical Landscape with Exotic Plants and Three Figures
1771
Medium
Black chalk and a little red chalk, blue and red pastel, blue and red wash.
Dimensions
23 3/8 x 16 9/16 in. (59.3 x 42 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1974
Accession Number
1974.356.46
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1771, *Fantastical Landscape with Exotic Plants and Three Figures* showcases Jean Pillement’s imaginative vision through a delicate interplay of natural and invented forms. The drawing presents a dreamlike scene where lush, oversized flowers and leaves frame three small human figures, inviting viewers to wander through an otherworldly garden. Its classification among ornamental and architectural works suggests it may have served as inspiration for decorative designs, reflecting the eighteenth-century taste for exotic and theatrical motifs. Pillement employed a refined mix of black ...