Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours is one of the most important painters and draftsmen of the École genevoise de peinture. Introduced to the graphic arts at an early age by his father, drawing teacher Jacques Saint-Ours, Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours began his studies when he joined Joseph-Marie Vien's studio at the Académie Royale de peinture et de sculpture in Paris in 1769. Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours' career was brilliant: he was awarded with several prizes, including the famous Prix de Rome in 1780. Between 1780 and 1792, the Swiss painter worked in Rome, where he enjoyed an excellent reputation. It was during this stay that Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours nurtured his passion for Antiquity. Returning to Geneva in 1792, Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours became fully involved in the life of the city. In particular, he played a key role in the Société des Arts, where he taught drawing and founded the Musée des Moulages, which became the Musée de la Société des Arts and later the Musée Rath in 1826. A perfect example of Jean-Pierre Saint-Ours' ideas put down on paper, this drawing is attractive for the liveliness of its stroke and the expressiveness of its figures.