Nude studies of boys for the figures of angels in the painting ‘The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ 1864

Józef Simmler's "Nude studies of boys for the figures of angels in the painting ‘The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary’" is a study for the figures of angels in a larger religious painting completed in 1864. The drawing, executed in simple pencil on paper, features three separate studies of nude boys in various prayerful poses. The artist’s careful attention to detail in these preparatory sketches is evident in the rendering of the figures’ anatomy and expressions. The use of line in these studies captures a moment in time, with subtle shadings that convey the natural contours of the youthful figures.