Study for Joan of Arc, and Sketches of Hands c. 1851

This charcoal drawing, "Study for Joan of Arc, and Sketches of Hands," is a preliminary study for a larger painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Completed in 1851, it depicts the figure of Joan of Arc in a standing pose, holding a staff and looking upwards, with a sketch of hands in the upper right. The study demonstrates Ingres's meticulous attention to detail and his mastery of line, which he used to create a sense of both form and movement in the figure. The sketch is housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, offering a glimpse into the artist's creative process before his finished works.