Thirius de Pautrizel

Thirius de Pautrizel, executed by Jacques-Louis David in 1795, is a singular example of French draftsmanship from the period 1776 to 1800. This highly finished drawing showcases David’s masterful technique in combining various media, a practice common in the neoclassical preparatory process, yet rendered here with the intensity of a completed portrait. The work is realized through pen and gray ink with extensive gray wash, used to define deep shadows and the overall structure of the sitter’s form.

David, the dominant artistic figure during the French Revolution, further developed details using pale brown wash, particularly across the face, laid down over preliminary touches of graphite. The composition is brightened and contours are refined by the selective application of white gouache, highlighting the subject's features and giving the drawing a striking luminosity. The precise handling of line and tone reveals the artist’s characteristic severity and psychological control, crucial elements in his celebrated portraiture.

The piece is executed on laid paper and subsequently laid down on an old circular mount, suggesting a deliberate presentation format, perhaps intended as a gift or a study for a print. This detailed technical record of the medium exemplifies the high standards of draftsmanship in the French academic tradition. As a vital document of late eighteenth-century portraiture, the drawing offers crucial insight into the working methods of the master.

This profound work is part of the distinguished drawing collection at the National Gallery of Art. Due to the age and historical significance of the piece, it is often studied digitally, with high-quality images and prints made available through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to appreciate the precision of David’s hand in this powerful portrait.