This exquisite, small-scale drawing sketch by François-Édouard Picot captures a seated female figure draped in classical robes. The delicately drawn lines and subtle shading highlight Picot’s exceptional skill in composition and detail.
The figure holds a small pyramid in one hand—a symbol often associated with knowledge, eternity, or the sciences—and a staff or scepter in the other, underscoring her allegorical significance. Crowned with a laurel wreath, she exudes an air of wisdom, authority, and serenity.
The intimate scale of this work, presented in a simple wooden frame with green matting, suggests that it may have been a preparatory study for a larger allegorical or mythological composition.
The figure’s poised demeanor and symbolic attributes point to her representing Knowledge, Eternity, or a muse such as Minerva (goddess of wisdom) or Clio (muse of history).
François-Édouard Picot (1786–1868) was a renowned French painter celebrated for his allegorical, mythological, and historical works. A student of Jacques-Louis David and François-André Vincent, Picot achieved recognition at the 1819 Salon for his masterpiece L’Amour et Psyché (Cupid and Psyche), which earned him a second-class medal. His legacy includes monumental works such as The Crowning of the Virgin at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Paris, as well as his mentorship of prominent artists like Alexandre Cabanel and William Bouguereau.
This beautiful drawing is a testament to Picot’s mastery of classical artistry and would make an exceptional addition to any collection of 19th-century French art or Neoclassical studies.
Condition and wear consistent with age and use.
Approx. overall 6" high x 6" wide x 1¼" deep incl. frame
Approx. overall 15cm high x 15cm wide x 3cm deep incl. frame
