A PREPARATORY STUDY FOR THE FIGURE OF THE MAN LEANING ON THE GROUND IN THE LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE PORTRAIT OF MADAMOISELLE CAMARGO IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON. M.T. HOLMES, NICOLAS LANCRET, 1690-1743, NEW YORK, 1991, NO. 5, PL.9. LANCRET PORTRAITS OF THE BALLERINA MARIE-ANNE CUPPI DE CAMARGO (1710-1770) WERE AMONG HIS MOST CELEBRATED AND LUCRATIVE PRODUCTIONS. THE PAINTING IN WASHINGTON IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS OF THE FOUR COMPOSITIONS. THE PICTURE WAS ACQUIRED BY KING FREDERICK II OF PRUSSIA, THE KEENEST COLLECTOR OF FETES GALANTES AND WAS FORMERLY AT POTSDAM. IN 1730 LANCRET SECURED A PRIVILEGE TO GARUNTEE THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO THE ENGRAVED REPRODUCTIONS OF HIS PORTRAITS. IN THE PICTURE, THE FIGURE WHO IS STUDIED IN THIS DRAWING, IS LYING AT THE FEET OF A FIGURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SELF-PORTRAIT OF LANCRET