Woman with a Pitcher, from the Palazzo Mattei

The drawing Woman with a Pitcher, from the Palazzo Mattei by Jacques-Louis David, dated between 1775 and 1780, is an important example of the artist's developing Neoclassical style during his crucial early years. Executed on beige laid paper, the work utilizes a sophisticated combination of dark brown ink and gray wash over an initial graphite sketch. This layering technique allows David to establish deep shadows and volumetric forms, lending the figure a sculptural presence typical of his later masterworks. This preparatory study, created during a pivotal moment in the artist's career, is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.

While the exact execution date falls slightly later than the end of the 1751 to 1775 period, the drawing reflects David’s intense academic study of classical sources and Old Masters during his residency in Rome. As a foundational figure of the French Neoclassical movement, David frequently produced detailed studies like this, often using figures from daily life or simple antique motifs as subjects for exercises in draughtsmanship. The gray wash applied by David functions almost sculpturally, defining the folds of the woman’s drapery and emphasizing the weight and stability of the ceramic pitcher she holds. The work demonstrates an early command of dramatic lighting and solid anatomical rendering, skills foundational to his trajectory.

This powerful drawing, classified firmly within the French artistic tradition, offers invaluable insight into the rigorous technique that underpinned his later monumental paintings. Through the careful study of David’s precise handling of the ink and wash, art historians appreciate the technical mastery required of the era. Reference images and prints of the artwork Woman with a Pitcher, from the Palazzo Mattei are frequently available, sometimes through public domain access initiatives, ensuring this significant piece of French drawing history remains accessible for academic study and appreciation.