Etienne Parrocel

Etienne Parrocel was an artist active across the first three quarters of the 18th century, with his documented period of production spanning 1700 to 1771. His extant work, as represented in major American institutions, consists primarily of preparatory drawings and detailed figurative studies, suggesting involvement in larger commissions or didactic pursuits.

The seven known drawings held in museum collections emphasize biblical narratives and complex figure groupings, confirming his focus on traditional European subject matter. These works are preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago, establishing the museum-quality standard of his graphic output.

Specific documented drawings include the large-scale religious scene Gideon Gathering His Army, Scene from the Book of Judges and the study The Creation of Eve. Parrocel also executed preparatory sketches, such as Seated Woman with a Child on her Lap (Study for a Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria), alongside figurative compositions like Putto Seated Beside Drapery, Reaching Upwards and Man Pulling a Curtain Aside. Today, select drawings by the artist, including many Etienne Parrocel prints and related works, have entered the public domain, making them available for high-quality prints and research.