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The image shows a sketch of a woman in a three-quarter view, seated and leaning against a column or structure. Her right arm rests on the surface and her head is supported by her hand. She has a pensive expression, with her head slightly tilted. Her hair is styled in a bun and she wears a flowing garment with draped design and loose sleeves. There are no visible objects or jewelry, and the background is minimal and plain.
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The image shows a sketch of a woman in a three-quarter view, seated and leaning against a column or structure. Her right arm rests on the surface and her head is supported by her hand. She has a pensive expression, with her head slightly tilted. Her hair is styled in a bun and she wears a flowing garment with draped design and loose sleeves. There are no visible objects or jewelry, and the background is minimal and plain.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Muse from the Sarcophagus of the Muses

Jacques-Louis David

Date
1775/80
Medium
black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 15.3 x 10 cm (6 x 3 15/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1998.105.1.g
Credit line
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • figure
  • Sculpture
  • Neoclassic
Provenance

Estate of the artist (sale, Paris, 17 April 1826, under no. 66; withdrawn); Mme. David (sale, Paris, 11 March 1835, under no. 16); purchased by one of David's pupils, Mlle. X (name obliterated);[1] by descent in her family; (Bruno de Bayser, Paris); purchased 1998 by NGA. [1] According to inscription on flyleaf.

Inscription

lower right: paraphes of E.D. and J.D.

NGA object ID 107050. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.