Apollo or Adonis c. 1818

Henri-Guillaume Chatillon rendered this drawing, titled 'Apollo or Adonis', with delicate strokes on paper. The sculpture-like figure, youthful and nude, evokes classical ideals of beauty. Consider the implicit nudity, a symbol of vulnerability and purity, deeply rooted in classical antiquity, where the unclothed form represented heroic virtue. The body stands unashamed. We see this same unashamed representation in Renaissance depictions of Adam and Eve. The placement of the figure beside the tree trunk suggests an earthly connection, reminiscent of Adonis, whose life and death were intertwined with nature's cycles. His sorrowful countenance reminds us of the profound emotional resonance embedded in such imagery—a mirror reflecting humanity’s eternal dance with mortality. The image resonates with motifs that continually resurface, reflecting our enduring fascination with the human form, beauty, and our connection with the natural world.