Study of a Male Nude 1700 - 1800

This sanguine drawing gives us a glimpse into the academic practices of eighteenth-century France. It’s titled "Study of a Male Nude," and likely comes from the hand of a student in training. In France at this time, the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture controlled artistic production. The Academy taught young artists to draw the idealized human form by copying ancient sculptures and observing live models. Emphasis was placed on anatomical accuracy and the expression of noble sentiments, such as heroism and virtue. But not all who participated in the academy were granted access to the same training, often students had restricted access to models. Here, the soft shading and relaxed pose of the figure could reflect a student's individual style, but more likely it is a result of restricted access to the model. Art historians consult a range of archival sources to understand the institutions that shaped artistic production, and to recover the names and stories of those artists who remain anonymous today.