This drawing offers designs for parts of a compartmented carved and painted ceiling. Although the ornamental motifs are not depicted as if seen from below, an illusion of height is nevertheless conveyed through the suggestion of sky in the empty frames, and in the subtle depths of shadow around the figures, herms and hunting trophies. The interlaced LLs of the royal monogram and the Apollo masks with sunburst inscribe political power in this ornate framework, while painting is seemingly relegated to filling the decorative shapes of ornament’s devising.

Professor Anthony Blunt (1907-1983), by February 1964 [when exhibited at The Courtauld]; Blunt Bequest via the Art Fund 1984

Drawings Gallery Display - Ornament by Design, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 23/04/2016-12/06/2016

French paintings and drawings of the 17th century, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1971

The Sir Anthony Blunt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1964 (February)

Tellas, Damien, 'Michel Dorigny 1616-1665' in 'Cahier du Dessin Français', 2019; 21
no. 50 on p. 30
fig. 50 on p. 81

French paintings and drawings of the 17th century, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1971
cat. no. 31

Watermark: Watermarks: none visible in the drawing sheet. Backing sheet, Verso: right centre edge: a letter? [See photo in file].

Inscription: Recto: each of the three blue compartments contains an inscription in graphite, now very difficult to read: at upper right: “Chasse”; left centre: “[…] de Certé / Lennevre[?]”; lower right: illegible. Backing sheet, Verso: upper centre edge, brown ink: “B. no. 6:”; centre, graphite, Blunt’s hand: “Michel Dorigny cf drawing / at Chatsworth (Bristol exhn [an erasure] 34. / cf also LeBrun drawing for Versailles ref. / Nolhac Hist. du Château de Versailles / 1911, ii p. 16 (also in Refectoire). / If Dorigny for Vincennes cf the family motto / otherwise for the Salon d’Apollon.”; lower right, brown ink, written twice (once small and upside down): “5”; lower centre, graphite, large and underlined: “M” [not on Lugt; looks similar to L.1846a, unidentified, but ours is quite large and that mark has no dimensions on Lugt]. Mount (removed, now missing, but recorded in file), Verso: Blunt’s hand: “cf also drawing at RIBA signed by Dorigny, Colbert and Mazan[?] for Vincennes dated 1660”.

Collector's mark: none.