15 - François Boucher (attributed to)

François Boucher (attributed to) Study of a Seated Figure in Oriental Costume graphite on laid paper, 236 x 203 mm Study of a seated male figure, dressed in a loose-fitting costume in the Oriental style, characterized by wide sleeves and voluminous drapery. The pose, gathered at the lower part and enlivened by the contrasting gesture of the arms, refers to the repertoire of characters developed by François Boucher within his famous chinoiseries, created primarily between the 1730s and 1740s.Particularly significant is the comparison with Boucher’s numerous studies of Chinese and Oriental-style figures conceived as independent elements, later reused in decorative compositions, engravings, and cartoons for tapestries. Similarities can be seen in the compact construction of the figure, in the relationship between the small bust and the voluminous drapery, in the elegant gestures of the hands, and in the concise rendering of the folds.In this regard, a comparison with the “Designs for Chinoiserie Ornament” at the Cooper Hewitt in New York, as well as with various studies of Oriental figures attributed to Boucher and his circle, is particularly interesting. It bears the inscription “Boucher” in the lower right corner.