Recto: figure and head-studies (including Bacchus); Verso: four main figure studies repeated from the recto 1745 - 1815

This sheet of figure studies by Bartholomaeus Ignaz Weiss, a German artist active in the late 18th century, exemplifies the practice of academic drawing common in the era. The sheet features a diverse range of figures, including a nude male figure, a female figure in drapery, and several head studies. The quick and gestural lines of the drawing suggest a focus on capturing the anatomy and movement of the human form, a critical component of the artistic training during this period. The drawing, in pen and brown ink on laid paper, is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.