Three Designs for a Funerary Monument or Epitaph 1770 - 1790

Jean Michel Moreau the Younger created these ink and watercolor designs for a funerary monument or epitaph in the late 18th century. Across the composition, Moreau presents three variations of memorial structures, each a delicate balance of classical motifs and personal commemoration. Note how Moreau uses line and form to create a dialogue between the ideal and the real. Each design incorporates a portrait medallion, framed by laurel wreaths, atop a marble or stone base. The designs are more than mere aesthetic exercises, they invite us to consider how memory is materialized through art. The vertical orientation and the use of classical architectural elements—pilasters, cornices, and draped cloths—lend a sense of solemnity and permanence. The scale is also interesting; Moreau includes a scale at the bottom edge, reminding us that these designs exist in a space between concept and potential reality. These designs encapsulate the Enlightenment-era fascination with order, reason, and the aestheticization of death.