Théodore GÉRICAULT (Rouen, 1791 - Paris, 1824) Two wrestlers, circa 1815-1820 Pencil Two wrestlers, pencil, by T. Gericault 2.83 x 3.11 in. 7.2 x 7.9 cm Provenance: Collection of Marie-Joseph-François Maherault, Paris ; His posthumous sale; Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 27-29 May 1880, no. 73 ; Henri Marillier Collection, Paris; Private collection, London; Eric Gillis Fine Art Gallery; Private collection, Ile-de-France Bibliography: Germain Bazin, Théodore Géricault, Wildenstein Institute, Paris, 1992, tome V, p.230, n° 1707 Our sheet is one of a group of five drawings of nude wrestlers (Bazin, op. cit., no. 1704 to no. 1708). Most of these are small drawings cut from album leaves. In ours, the intensity of the wrestling conveys a certain erotic tension, heightened by the position of the bodies of the two wrestlers in the form of an "X". Théodore GÉRICAULT (Rouen, 1791 - Paris, 1824) 7.2 x 7.9 cm Our sheet is one of a group of five drawings of nude wrestlers (Bazin, op. cit., nos. 1704 to 1708). Most of these are small drawings cut from album leaves. In ours, the intensity of the wrestling conveys a certain erotic tension, heightened by the position of the bodies of the two wrestlers in the form of an "X".