Gravelot's drawing is preparatory for an engraved frontispiece to Act IV of Beaumarchais' five-act play “Eugénie” (Paris : Merlin, 1767). This study depicts a less developed stage of Gravelot's composition than 1968.15:26. The title is inscribed twice at the bottom, indicating the artist's intention of extending the foot of the design. Several figures are shown gathered in a room; at center a gentleman armed with a sword rushes towards a man standing at left, as two other men attempt to intercede. The engraving after the drawing was executed by Jean Charles Le Vasseur (1734-1816).
Drawing captioned "Laissez faire mon fils" and signed at bottom "H. Gravelot inven."
Fourquevaux, Joseph de Beccarie de Pavie, marquis de, 1762-1841, former owner.
Bocher, Emmanuel, 1835-1919, former owner.
Olry-Roederer, Léon, 1869-1932, former owner.
Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, former owner.
Fleming, John F. (John Francis), 1910-1987, former owner.
Kraemer, Ruth S. "Drawings by Gravelot in the Morgan Library." Master drawings, XX (Spring 1982), p. 10, no. 22, reproduced plate 9a.