JEROME-MARTIN LANGLOIS
1779-1838
62 Alexander Ceding Campaspe
to Apelles
Black chalk, gray wash, and white gouache heightening;
H: 39 cm (i5^3 /sin.); W: 51.4 cm (20 %.in.)
86.GG.475
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS: None.
PROVENANCE: Private collection, United States; art
market, New York.
EXHIBITIONS: French and English Drawings 1700-1875,
Zangrilli, Brady and Co., New York, February-March
1986, no. 23.BIBLIOGRAPHY: None.THIS HIGHLY FINISHED DRAWING WAS MADE IN PREP-
aration for Langlois's painting of the same subject (Tou-
louse, Musée des Augustins), which achieved great suc-
cess at the Salon of 1819 (exhibited as "La générosité
d'Alexandre"). Although the composition is davidean,
Langlois chose a different moment from that depicted in
David's picture in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille, in
which Apelles is shown pausing to admire the figure of
Campaspe. By contrast Langlois has shown Alexander
handing her over to the artist, who responds with appro-
priate enthusiasm and gratitude to his master's magna-
nimity. The clarity and severity of setting and cool, pol-
ished rendering of form are hallmarks of Langlois's fully
developed Neoclassicism.154 FRENCH SCHOOL • LANGLOIS