Portrait of a Man, said to be the Sculptor Clodion (1738–1814)
late 1700s
Medium
Black chalk with stumping and red and blue chalks; frame details in pen and brown ink and blue washes
Dimensions
25.5 × 21.3 cm · diam. 13.7 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of Muriel Butkin
Accession Number
2018.51
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
This portrait is presumed to represent the French sculptor Clodion (1738-1814). He is depicted as a nobleman, wearing a suit with a ruffled collar and a wig tied with a ribbon. The medallion format and use of color in this drawing recall painted portrait miniatures, an art form that reached the height of its popularity in the 18th century.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...