Woman with a Lyre

Woman with a Lyre is a refined drawing created by Jacques-Louis David between 1775 and 1780. Classified as a drawing, this French work uses black chalk applied meticulously to laid paper. The estimated creation timeframe places it squarely within the later phase of the historical period designated as 1751 to 1775, a crucial moment marking the transition from the elaborate ornamentation of the Rococo toward the measured sobriety of Neoclassicism.

This elegant study demonstrates David's early mastery of line and composition, preceding the massive historical canvases for which he would become internationally famous. The use of black chalk allows the artist to achieve both strong, defining contours and subtle tonal modeling, carefully capturing the light reflecting off the figure's draped garments. The subject, a lone woman, engages with the lyre, an instrument frequently associated with classical antiquity and high art, thereby reflecting the growing intellectual emphasis on Greco-Roman themes prevalent during this era. David’s sensitivity in rendering the textile folds and the figure’s composed posture suggests the highly polished style he would fully develop following his pivotal travels to Rome.

As a document of David’s nascent career, this piece is invaluable for tracing the development of the artist's draftsmanship and his adherence to academic principles. This significant example of late 18th-century graphic work is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Due to its historical importance and considerable age, this work often falls into the public domain, allowing scholars and enthusiasts access to high-quality prints and reproductions for detailed study and appreciation.