Je suis vengé de toi: l'on te hait, et l'on m'aime

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the National Gallery of's Rosenwald Collection will delight in *Je suis vengé de: l'on te hait, et l'on m'aime* ("I am avenged you: they hate you and they love me"), a captivating drawing by Hubert François Gravelot1699–1773). This intimate work, executed in red chalk and graphite on laid (approximately 26.7 x 19.9 cm), the French rococo master's skill in capturing dramatic emotion through fluid lines and subtle shading. Gravelot, a leading illustrator and engraver who bridged French and English art scenes—collaborating even with William Hogarth—often created preparatory drawings for books and theatrical prints. The title evokes a theatrical triumph of love over rivalry, likely inspired by 18th-century French comedy or opera, rendered with sanguine chalk's warm tones for lifelike flesh and graphite's precision for expressive details. Rococo's playful elegance shines here, favoring graceful figures and emotional intensity over classical austerity. Housed in the museum's CG-E department, this piece highlights red chalk's Renaissance-to-Baroque legacy, prized for its versatility in studies. Gravelot's technique not only advanced book illustration but also influenced neoclassical draftsmen, offering a window into the era's cultural vibrancy where art intertwined with literature and performance.

About the Artist

Hubert François Gravelot

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...