Lead pencil, stump, white chalk highlights on formerly blue paper
300 x 215 mm
Provenance: Charles-Pompée Le Boulanger de Boisfremont (Lugt 353), then Madame Emilie Power, born de Broisfremont, his daughter (sale after death, Paris, 15-16th april 1864, n°73), Eugène Lecomte (sale after death, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 11th june 1906, p. 13, n°28, reproduced), Léon Ferté
Exhibition: Paris, musée du Petit-Palais, P.-P. Prud’hon, may-june 1922, n° 135
Reference: Jean Guiffrey, L’œuvre de P. P. Prud’hon, Paris, 1924, Archives de l’Art français, tome XIII, p. 36, n° 106

This study is preparatory to The Dream of Happiness, a painting commented on in the booklet of the 1819 Salon where it was exhibited: Two young spouses in a boat, with their child, are led on the river of life by Love and Fortune. The painting is the work of Prud’hon’s companion and pupil, Constance Mayer.