Modern Folio with Typed Text and Inscriptions - Jean-Honoré Fragonard

A 1931 archival document detailing the inventory and deconstruction of a sketchbook containing various drawings by Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

This document provides a detailed inventory of a sketchbook once belonging to the French Rococo painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The text, dated 1931, serves as a record of the physical deconstruction of a folio that contained various preparatory drawings. The author describes the process of removing sketches that had been pasted over other pages, a practice that allowed for the discovery of hidden studies beneath the primary compositions. The inventory lists twenty-three distinct items, ranging from red crayon anatomical studies to pencil sketches of figures and garden scenes, including a specific reference to the Villa d'Este. The document offers a glimpse into the provenance and conservation history of Fragonard's working materials. It captures the methodical approach taken by early twentieth-century scholars to catalogue and preserve the artist's output. By itemising the contents, the text clarifies the relationship between the various sketches, noting which were original compositions and which were secondary studies found on the same leaves. For those interested in the history of art scholarship, this document is a primary source. It records the transition of a private sketchbook into a collection of individualised works. The typed format and handwritten annotations provide a tactile connection to the research process, documenting the physical handling of the artist's materials. This print is suitable for collectors who appreciate the archival side of art history, offering a look at the documentation that supports the study of Fragonard's creative process.