RESERVED

Jacques Rivaud (1749-1820).

Vestibule of a Grand Neoclassical Structure with Oriental Figures.

Boston, February 6, 1778.

Ink and gouache on laid watermarked paper, two sheets adjoined. 41 x 29 cm. Mounted along edges to thick paper strips. Annotated at the bottom right: “Fait à Boston par l'ingénieur Rivaud le 6 février 1778”.

Fine architectural drawing by an engineer of the Continental Army. The artist, Jacques Rivaud, was recruited in France by Colonel Tronson du Coudray. This colonel was tasked by the American diplomat Silas Deane to secretly recruit engineers from France to aid in the construction of fortifications in America. While little is known about these recruits, and even less about any graphic material produced by them in America, the Journals of the Continental Congress from November 1777 list their names, including Jacques Rivaud (see note). Rivaud completed this drawing in Boston on February 6, 1778, clearly intending to showcase his skills as an architectural draughtsman and designer, with a perfect mastery of perspective. The style is unmistakably an early example of neoclassical Federal-style architecture. The date on the drawing suggests that Rivaud likely advised on fortification repairs in Boston, which had suffered extensive damage during the eleven-month siege of 1775-1776.
Rivaud was a notable sub-engineer whose most significant projects were in Mâcon, France. His work is well-documented in historical archives, highlighting his involvement in urban planning for Mâcon and recognizing his professional significance, but nothing is noted about his time in the U.S. His work in Mâcon occurred after his return from the United States. The Musée des Ursulines in Mâcon holds a drawing by Rivaud, depicting a plan for a gate in the city that is stylistically very similar to the drawing we offer here (Cahiers d'inventaire n° 20: Dessins (notice illustrée p. 11)).

Condition: Two tiny pinholes, otherwise in excellent condition.

Literature:

Rivaud’s drawing and bio on French government website: https://pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/joconde/01720026223

A. Lasseray, Les Français sous les treize étoiles (1775-1783), Mâcon, Paris, Protat, 1935.

G. Lacour-Gayet, "La vieille France et la jeune Amérique - Campagne du vice-amiral d'Estaing" in Revue des Deux Mondes, vol. 25, 1905.

Journals of the Continental Congress, November, 1777, pp. 876-877: “Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the return of the said gentlemen to France, at their own request, be facilitated, and that it will be doing full justice to allow them continental pay according to their respective stations, from the time of their agreement with Mr. Deane, to the first day of November, 1777, their expenses in traveling to the eastward or southward for embarkation for Europe, and a further sum in bills of exchange for their passages to France and traveling charges to Paris; that the bills be drawn in their favour, by the president, on the commissioners in France, at thirty days' sight, and that these allowances shall be in full satisfaction of their several claims against the United States; and the committee having made an estimate of the allowances according to this resolution, submit the same, in manner following. Rivaud.”