Allégorie des mariages faits par la ville de Paris à la naissance du duc de Bourgogne (Allegory of the Marriages Performed by the City of Paris in Honor of the Birth of the Duc de Bourgogne in 1751)

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an allegorical scene depicting marriage. The artwork shows figures, predominantly cherubs and mythological beings, engaging in a celebration under a grand architectural structure with columns. The top portion includes cherubs holding an ornate oval frame and other cherubs in flight, while the central figures are reclining amidst flowing drapery. At the bottom, more cherubs and classical musical instruments are scattered, creating a sense of festivity. The use of line and form creates a theatrical atmosphere, highlighting the allegorical nature of marriages as a ceremonious event.