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Sheet of Studies for a Sculptural Frieze
Jean Le Pautre (French, 1618–1682)
Red chalk and brush and gray ink on laid paper mounted on board
Museum purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Horner Fund 1968.47
How much will it cost? $2,750
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This drawing may look like it has freckles, but the brown spots you see are a problem that plagues many old drawings: foxing. Named for the reddish-brown color reminiscent of a fox’s fur, foxing typically is caused by mold growth or rust from tiny metal splinters embedded in the paper. Here, the spots scattered across the page may result from imperfections in the poor-quality blue paper on which the drawing is mounted. The conservator will remove this blue paper and wash the drawing to reduce the overall discoloration and spotting.
