Design for a Frieze with the Allegory of Literature

A pen and brown wash drawing shows a small framed scene of three figures among tall reeds. A reclining putto leans on stacked books at left, a seated woman rests her arm on an open book, and a helmeted standing figure points upward beside a music stand with sheet music. Sepia ink and wash give the composition a soft, classical tone.

Artist

Piat Joseph Sauvage

Date

1785-1790

Medium

Pen and ink, brush and sepia wash on paper

Source

Smithsonian (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum)

Size

2121 × 1125 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Smithsonian Institution, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum