Study for the Muse Thalia 1840 - 1886

This is a preparatory study for the figure of Thalia, the Greek Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, by French artist Paul Baudry. Dating from 1840-1886, this study is a graphite drawing on paper and features a single figure seated, rendered in detailed lines that hint at the final sculpture. Baudry, known for his academic style, created this artwork as a preliminary sketch for the finished sculpture, which is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection.