Jean de france, duke of berry, study of a sculpture by jean de cambrai. Black and coloured chalk, 39. 6 × 27. 5 cm, kunstmuseum basel. Holbein drew this picture and its companion piece, jeanne de boulogne, duchess of berry, during a visit to france in 1523/24, where he was probably seeking work with francis i of france. The two sculptures drawn by holbein were life-sized limestone effigies of jean, duke of berry (1340–1416), and his second wife, jeanne de boulogne (1396–1422). At that time, the sculptures were in the chapel of the duke's palace in bourges; they are now in bourges cathedral. Holbein's drawings were used as guides during a restoration of the statues, when 19th-century additions were removed. The two drawings are significant for holbein scholars in providing direct evidence of the artist's visit to france and as the first example of his exclusive use of coloured chalks. He may have adopted the technique after seeing the drawings of jean clouet and other artists of the french school. However, he had already used chalks in his silverpoint drawings, and the technique was not unknown in augsburg and basel, where he practised his art. (müller, 316–17). Date: c. 1523/24.
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