Staand mannelijk naakt, van voren gezien (2e prijs 1796) Possibly 1796

Nicolaus Ritter Jr. made this chalk drawing of a standing male nude in 1796, and it won him second prize. The image is evocative of the artistic conventions of its time, calling to mind the classical ideals that were still prevalent in European art academies. Standing in contrapposto, the nude man leans casually against a plinth, gesturing outwards, away from the picture plane. Ritter was a student, so this drawing served as an exercise in understanding human anatomy, emulating classical forms of beauty. But it also represents a specific social setting: the art academy. In the late eighteenth century, these institutions played a key role in shaping artistic taste and promoting certain aesthetic values. Drawings like this one were crucial for aspiring artists like Ritter, who sought to master the conventions of academic art. By examining the records of the academy, or other student drawings, we can better understand Ritter's place within the broader context of artistic training and production in the Netherlands at the time.