Seated Woman Holding a Bird Cage

probably 18th century

Seated Woman Holding a Bird Cage, probably 18th century. Copy after François Boucher (French, 1703–1770). Black chalk with stumping (in drapery) and wet work (hair and eyes) and red and white chalk, with blue chalk and traces of yellow chalk; sheet: 35.9 x 28.9 cm (14 1/8 x 11 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2017.218 This chalk drawing originated from the studio of François Boucher. Although it bears Boucher’s signature—seen at lower right—the image was likely executed by a member of the master’s shop, rather than Boucher himself. Despite the anonymity of the draftsman, the image nonetheless reproduces one of Boucher’s designs and was therefore considered a work by the master.