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Dominique-Vivant Denon

Lithography Lesson

1819
Lithograph on off-white wove paper
21.8 × 32.2 cm (8.6 × 12.7 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The painter and printmaker Dominique-Vivant Denon excelled in quick sketches of people and monuments. In 1798 he accompanied a French expedition to Egypt, documenting architectural settings for many of the artifacts Napoleon acquired. Back in France, Denon produced numerous lithographs in the same lively manner and hosted gatherings in which guests attempted to produce lithographs themselves. Here the group admires the skill of one of Denon’s female guests, possibly also his pupil. Unusually, she draws a muscular naked man on her thin lithographic stone. In this period, women receiving professional academy training did not study from the nude, yet this amateur exudes pride in her accomplishment.

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More by Dominique-Vivant Denon

Profile Portrait of Monsieur de SommarivaProfile Portrait of Monsieur de SommarivaPortrait of an Old ManPortrait of an Old ManPortrait of Volney Dipping his PenPortrait of Volney Dipping his PenBaron Denon before his EaselBaron Denon before his EaselPortrait of Brunet, PrinterPortrait of Brunet, PrinterTwo Portraits of a Man in Half-LengthTwo Portraits of a Man in Half-LengthPortrait of Monsieur de MennevalPortrait of Monsieur de MennevalPortrait of Monsieur Nelys in ProfilePortrait of Monsieur Nelys in Profile

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