Double-Handled Pot

The Double-Handled Pot by Jacques-Louis David is a significant example of French preparatory draftsmanship dating from the years 1775 to 1780. Classified as a drawing, this piece provides valuable insight into the meticulous study processes employed by the artist as he transitioned toward his mature Neoclassical style. The work was executed using the precise and demanding technique of transfer tracing on oiled laid paper, a method designed to accurately capture forms, often for subsequent reuse or scaling in larger compositions.

The drawing focuses squarely on a single classical vessel, likely a study of a ceramic artifact or an antique sculpture, characterized by its symmetrical handles and clearly defined structure. This intense focus on individual objects reflects the artistic climate during the period 1751 to 1775, where there was a growing academic interest in archaeological precision and classical geometry. David’s preparatory studies, even when dealing with simple utilitarian objects like this pot, emphasize clarity of line and form over mass or shadow, principles that underpinned the aesthetic revolution of Neoclassicism.

Although primarily celebrated for his monumental history paintings, such detailed observational drawings were fundamental to David’s rigorous approach, ensuring historical and material verisimilitude in his finished works. This drawing offers a critical window into the methodology of one of the most influential figures in French art. Many similar studies created by David are now preserved in institutional archives, contributing to the body of work frequently made available for scholarly study and as fine art prints distributed through the public domain. This particular sheet remains an important holding within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art.