Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait is an important early drawing by Jacques-Louis David, executed between 1775 and 1780. This piece utilizes black chalk and pen and ink on laid paper, a common technique for preparatory studies where the artist outlines major forms and refines linear elements before committing to a final oil painting or more detailed work. Created during the period spanning 1751 to 1775, this drawing captures David as he transitioned away from the late-Rococo aesthetics he encountered in France towards the austere clarity of Roman Neoclassicism.

The subject centers on a solemn figure of a woman, likely a grieving relative or widow, interacting with a putto, a mythological figure often symbolizing the passage of time or the spirit of the deceased. The central focus is the inclusion of a contained portrait, possibly miniature or sculpted relief, clearly identifying the scene as one of memorializing. David uses the contrast between the fluid chalk application and the decisive lines of the ink to establish volume, drapery, and emotional weight, while maintaining the geometric balance characteristic of the nascent Neoclassical style.

This French work provides crucial insight into the artist’s methodology during his formative years. The restrained emotion and classical setting anticipate the rigorous historical narratives for which David would later become famous. The drawing is classified as a foundational study within the National Gallery of Art’s extensive collection. The enduring legacy of this era ensures that prints of works like Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait often enter the public domain, facilitating widespread appreciation and scholarship of David's foundational contributions to European art history.