J.B. Cardon
Medium
black chalk
Dimensions
image (diameter): 6.4 cm (2 1/2 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1986.49.1
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Discover the delicate portrait *J.B. Cardon* (1782), a masterful black drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin II housed in the National Gallery of. Measuring just 6.4 cm in diameter this intimate circular composition captures the essence of its sitter in a format reminiscent of medallion portraits, evoking refined elegance of late 18th-century French. Cochin II (1715–1790), a leading figure in French art, bridged Rococo ornamentation and emerging Neoclassicism through his precise draughtsmanship and influential role at the Académie Royale. Created on the eve of the French Revolution, this work reflects the era's fascination with personal likenesses among intellectuals and artists. Black chalk, with its soft tonal range, allowed Cochin to achieve subtle modeling and lifelike expression on such a small scale, showcasing his skill in preparatory studies often used for engravings. As part of the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund collection, *J.B. Cardon* offers a window into Enlightenment portraiture—elegant, insightful, and enduringly human. Visitors will appreciate its technical finesse and historical poise.
About the Artist
Charles-Nicolas Cochin II (French) · 1715 –1790
French, Paris 1715–1790 Paris