Apollo Bathing, Attended by the Nymphs of Thetis
17th century
Charles Le Brun, the ultimate artistic boss of Louis XIV's court, sketched this lively scene of Apollo getting the royal treatment from a squad of nymphs. You can see the faint grid lines in the background, a dead giveaway that this was a preparatory study meant to be scaled up for a grander project, likely a tapestry or painting for Versailles. The red chalk outlines give the figures a warm, sculptural feel, while the grey wash adds dramatic shadows, showing off Le Brun's mastery of the Baroque style even in a quick sketch. It's like a behind-the-scenes look at how a 17th-century masterpiece was born.
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