Venus, Saint Susanna, Mercury by M. Pigalle c. 1845

This pencil drawing depicts three classical sculptures by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, including Venus, Saint Susanna, and Mercury. Created in 1845 by an anonymous artist, the work serves as a record of Pigalle's sculptures. The drawings are simple, focusing on the contours of the statues, highlighting the anatomical details of each figure. This preparatory study, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, demonstrates the artist's interest in classical sculpture and highlights Pigalle's prominent place in the artistic landscape of 18th-century France.