Male Nude, Louis XV Period

Dated November 12, 1772, during the reign of Louis XV, this superb red chalk drawing illustrates the rigor and sensuality of 18th-century French academic drawing. The male model, nude, is depicted from behind, reclining on a sheet, his head turned towards the viewer. The solidly constructed body testifies to a careful observation of anatomy. The volumes are rendered with great accuracy thanks to nuanced modeling, achieved solely through the modulation of red chalk. The artist perfectly masters the interplay of light and shadow. This type of study, executed from a live model, was a central exercise in the training of painters at the Academy, designed to develop a sense of movement, proportion, and light. Through its elegance and precision, this sheet is fully in keeping with the tradition of French academic drawing on the eve of Neoclassicism. Note: wear, stains. Image size: 46 cm x 28 cm. Framed size: 56 cm x 39 cm.