A charming Pair of an Older Man and a Woman in the ‘Trois Crayons’ Method dating to the 19th Century France.
The method of Trois Crayons, used 3 colors of chalk, red, black and white to draw the subjects with the white chalk mostly used to highlight the subjects.
The Pair depict an older man in the guise of a philosopher in a toga and a woman wearing her hair in a manner that came back into fashion in the late stages of the Consulate in France, hence circa 1804.
The period favored a return to costumes inspired by the Greek and Roman mythology. For the women it meant simple and light garments in the Neo Greek or Neo Classical style.
Hair styles featured light upturned hairdo with ribbons and flowers, distancing this generation from the pre revolutionary crowd of stiff garments and powdered hairs and wigs.
No names have been left behind on the portraits but we loved the light and the sweet reflection in the young woman’s face and the soul searching gaze present in the face of the older man….
The Pair was appraised by the Cabinet de Bayser in Paris, and came from a Private collection.
The drawings measure: 61/2 inches x 5 inches
The gilt wood frames measure 11 inches x 10 inches