Eustache Le Sueur

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Eustache Le Sueur

1616-1655

Study of Man's Figure Stooping to Pick up an Object

ca. 1640

Black chalk, with white chalk, on brown paper.

9 11/16 x 7 3/4 inches (247 x 196 mm)

Purchased by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1909.

III, 85b

Notes:

Influenced by his master Simon Vouet, le Sueur made studies after live models to examine the pose of figures in his painted compositions. This lightly drawn sketch describes a young man who kneels next to a large jar or basket and reaches his hand to the ground to gather the unseen object that is the focus of his gaze. The figure's action suggests it is a study for a depiction of the Israelites in the desert gathering manna, a familiar subject in the work of le Sueur and his contemporaries.

Provenance:

Pierre Jean Mariette (1694-1774), Paris (Lugt 1852); Sir Charles Greville (1763-1832), London (Lugt 549); by descent to his nephew, George Guy, fourth Earl of Warwick (1818-1893), London (Lugt 2600); his sale, London, Christie's, 20-21 May 1896, lot 216 ("Study for an Israelite Gathering Manna"); Charles Fairfax Murray (1849-1919), London and Florence; from whom purchased through Galerie Alexandre Imbert, Rome, in 1909 by Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), New York (no mark; see Lugt 1509); his son, J. P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), New York.

Associated names:

Mariette, Pierre Jean, 1694-1774, former owner.
Greville, Charles, 1762-1832, former owner.
Warwick, George Guy Greville, Earl of, 1818-1893, former owner.
Murray, Charles Fairfax, 1849-1919, former owner.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.

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