The image depicts a person standing on one leg with the other leg bent and slightly raised. The individual has one hand resting across the chest, and the head is tilted downward. The facial features are soft, with a serene expression, and the hair is curly, framing the face delicately. The person is not wearing any clothing. The background consists of a textured, somewhat indistinct environment, with darker shading around the figure, possibly representing foliage or abstract forms against a light-colored canvas. The image has a monochromatic appearance, executed in shades of gray on a bluish-gray paper.
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The image depicts a person standing on one leg with the other leg bent and slightly raised. The individual has one hand resting across the chest, and the head is tilted downward. The facial features are soft, with a serene expression, and the hair is curly, framing the face delicately. The person is not wearing any clothing. The background consists of a textured, somewhat indistinct environment, with darker shading around the figure, possibly representing foliage or abstract forms against a light-colored canvas. The image has a monochromatic appearance, executed in shades of gray on a bluish-gray paper.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Adonis

Pierre Paul Prud'hon

Date
c. 1810-1812
Medium
black chalk with white chalk heightening on blue paper
Dimensions
overall: 60.8 x 45.7 cm (23 15/16 x 18 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1972.48.1
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1801 to 1825
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • classical
  • mythology
  • Neoclassic
  • Adonis
Provenance

Binder à l'Isle-Adam; (sale, Paris, April 8, 1873, lot 61); Jean Stern; Dr. Fritz Nathan and Dr. Peter Nathan, Zurich

NGA object ID 53380. 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.