Study for ‘Idle Fears’

edwardjohnpoynter

drawing

amateur sketch

imaginative character sketch

light pencil work

pencil sketch

incomplete sketchy

personal sketchbook

character sketch

detailed observational sketch

fantasy sketch

initial sketch

Edward John Poynter’s *Study for ‘Idle Fears’* is a charcoal drawing of a nude male figure, likely a study for his larger oil painting, *Idle Fears*. The drawing, executed on a reddish-brown paper, shows the figure from the side, with the arms drawn up, suggesting a gesture of either defense or distress. The piece likely reflects Poynter’s interest in classical art and the human form. The study offers a glimpse into Poynter’s artistic process as he developed the composition for his larger painting.