Lake in Compiègne Forest

Like Fontainebleau, Compiègne forest had served as a royal hunting ground for centuries.This early, large-scale drawing by Huet explores the motif of the lake as a mirror for the surrounding forest. Compiègne was the seat of the Orléans family, who owned a chateau there, and Huet served as the drawing master to the Duchesse dʼOrléans. Her husband, Duke Ferdinand Philippe, was a draftsman and landscape painter as well as a patron of Huet.
Watermark (Countermark): T DUP Y. Wtarmark (beta radiograph), T DUP Y 439944wm_2022_338_Huet_CM_beta.tiff