Study for The Lictors Bringing Brutus the Bodies of his Sons

Jacques Louis David

ca. 1788 · Black chalk and brown ink on paper · Robert Lehman Collection

This drawing is one of numerous studies for David’s masterly painting in the Louvre. The subject, drawn from Roman Republican history, describes the return of the sons of Brutus for burial. It was Brutus himself (flourished 510 B.C.) who condemned his sons to death for treason.

Artist

Jacques Louis David

Date

ca. 1788

Medium

Black chalk and brown ink on paper

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975