The image shows a reclining human figure drawn with anatomical accuracy. The person is lying on their back, with their torso angled slightly upward and legs bent at the knees. The head is turned away, hiding the facial features. The musculature and contours of the body are detailed with shading, emphasizing the human form. The surroundings include a textured surface, potentially a fabric, adding to the interplay of light and shadow. There are no visible accessories or held objects, and the background has a subtle pattern for a three-dimensional effect.
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The image shows a reclining human figure drawn with anatomical accuracy. The person is lying on their back, with their torso angled slightly upward and legs bent at the knees. The head is turned away, hiding the facial features. The musculature and contours of the body are detailed with shading, emphasizing the human form. The surroundings include a textured surface, potentially a fabric, adding to the interplay of light and shadow. There are no visible accessories or held objects, and the background has a subtle pattern for a three-dimensional effect.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Academie (639)

Gilles-Antoine Demarteau after Edme Bouchardon

Date
c. 1785
Medium
chalk manner printed in red on laid paper
Classification
Print
Accession number
2017.19.46
Credit line
Ellwanger/Mescha Collection
Time span
1776 to 1800
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • crayon-manner engraving
  • nude
  • figure
Provenance

(James A. Bergquist, Newton Centre, MA); A. Thompson Ellwanger III and Gregory Mescha, Baltimore, MD; bequest to NGA, 2017.

NGA object ID 129367. 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.