Perspective Drawing of the Interior of a Cathedral

Currently not on view

Perspective Drawing of the Interior of a Cathedral

c. 1736

Attributed to Charles-Nicolas Cochin the Elder (French, 1688–1754)

In this interior view of the Church of the Invalides, a Baroque masterpiece by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646-1708), the artist concentrated on accurately rendering the perspective from a slightly oblique angle. Although Cochin's father is known to have executed the drawings for the plates in Granet's history of the church, the younger Cochin may have done this particular one, since it was never published and has survived as part of his portfolio. Cochin encouraged students to study both perspective and architecture, and praised the portraitist Maurice Quentin de La Tour (1704-1788) for establishing academic prizes in these areas.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Perspective Drawing of the Interior of a Cathedral
Interior of the Church of the Invalides, Paris

Date:

c. 1736

Artist:

Attributed to Charles-Nicolas Cochin the Elder (French, 1688–1754)

Medium:

Pen and ink with oil paint

Dimensions:

Sheet: 14 5/16 x 17 1/16 inches (36.3 x 43.3 cm)

Classification:

Drawings

Credit Line:

Purchased with the W. P. Wilstach Fund, 1958

Accession Number:

W1958-1-728

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

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Currently not on view