France / c. 1700–1702
St. John the Evangelist
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs St. John the Evangelist as drawing (France · c. 1700–1702).
This drawing was used primarily used by La Fosse to study the drapery that covers St. John's body. A nude drawing of the same figure is in Le Havre, France.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this drawing as black, red, and white chalk and credits Charles de La Fosse (French, 1636–1716).
The museum's collection notes: This drawing is a study for a fresco in the Parisian church of Les Invalides. The structure's four pendentives are each decorated with images of the Four Evangelists, and the Cleveland sheet relates to the design for St. John. La Fosse developed his ideas in numerous preparatory studies before beginning the final painting. He portrayed the religious figures with power and exuberance, imbuing his decorative scheme with unprecedented vigor. Drawings by La Fosse are difficult to find in the United States, and this sheet is an exceptional example of the artist's trois crayons (three-chalk) technique of using black, red, and white chalk together.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSt. John the EvangelistOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.