Event Item: 00215

Watteau's Drawings: Virtuosity and Delight

Exhibition: 12th Mar 2011 to 5th Jun 2011

Source: http://royalacademy.org.uk

In March 2011, the Royal Academy of Arts will present the first retrospective exhibition of the drawings of Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) to be held in the UK.

The display will contain over 80 works on paper produced by the French artist. Watteau is perhaps best known for his invention of a new genre: the fêtes galantes, small pictures of social gatherings of elegant people in parkland settings. He was also an exceptional draughtsman. His drawings were praised for their subtlety, freedom of execution, lightness of touch and grace, and remain widely admired today.