Study of a Nude Man in Profile turned to the Right 1765 - 1822

Antonio Canova made this drawing, Study of a Nude Man in Profile, with pen and brown ink, and brown wash over black chalk on paper. It might seem simple, a quick sketch. Yet, it speaks volumes about the creative process, and the work needed to produce art. Canova was a celebrated sculptor, famous for his idealized, Neoclassical marbles. But before the chisel hit the stone, there was a lot of prep work. In this sketch, we see Canova working through his ideas on paper. The light and shade is delicately rendered, achieving a three-dimensional effect with just a few strokes of the pen. The build-up of the lines show Canova figuring out his forms and composition. This drawing provides insight into the labor and the intellectual effort that underpins his sculptures. It blurs the lines between the fine arts and craft, showing how skills and experimentation with humble materials are essential for creating art of all kinds.