Black chalk, pen and brown ink.

Two juxtaposed sheets with the addition of an upper horizontal strip, glued onto paper.

H. 14.8 and 15.2 x L. 38.2 and 40.7 cm.

Frame: H. 32 x L. 94 cm.

Private collection, Paris.

This neoclassical-style preparatory drawing is the work of Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard, son of Jean-Honoré Fragonard (Grasse, 1732-Paris, 1806), for the frescoes in the vestibule of the Palais Masséna at Nice. They were originally designed for the Château de la Faulotte, on the outskirts of Paris, at the very beginning of the 19th century, influenced by Greco-Roman antiquity. We know of three other drawings of this series, probably allegories of the four seasons, not located.

We would like to thank Ms. Rébecca Duffeix for confirming the authenticity of this work.