Studies of a Draped Female Figure, Kneeling, Seen from the Back, for the East Transept of the Chruch of Sainte-Clothilde, Paris 1858

This preparatory drawing by Henri Lehmann from 1858 is a study for a larger work, likely a fresco, commissioned for the Church of Sainte-Clothilde in Paris. The drawing focuses on a female figure, seen from the back, draped in a voluminous robe, her head and face partially obscured. Lehmann's meticulous graphite lines capture the form and texture of the figure's clothing, highlighting the artist's focus on anatomy and the study of drapery in his academic training. These studies, while often overlooked, are essential for understanding the artist's process and the evolution of his ideas.