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The image shows a human figure, focusing on the upper body, head, and torso. The person is posed in a relaxed manner, facing the right side of the image with one arm slightly raised. The face has calm features, with a short swept-back hairstyle and loose curls framing the face. The figure is unclothed, and the background consists of abstract lines implying movement. There is no jewelry visible, and the drawing is done with various shades of pencil or charcoal to define the figure's outlines. The background is plain, with faint lines, emphasizing the figure's silhouette.
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The image shows a human figure, focusing on the upper body, head, and torso. The person is posed in a relaxed manner, facing the right side of the image with one arm slightly raised. The face has calm features, with a short swept-back hairstyle and loose curls framing the face. The figure is unclothed, and the background consists of abstract lines implying movement. There is no jewelry visible, and the drawing is done with various shades of pencil or charcoal to define the figure's outlines. The background is plain, with faint lines, emphasizing the figure's silhouette.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Reclining Nude with Her Right Arm Raised over a Swift Composition Study [verso]

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

Date
c. 1763
Medium
black chalk with touches of red chalk on buff laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 46.7 x 27.5 cm (18 3/8 x 10 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1994.11.1.b
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • female
  • figure
  • classical
  • mythology
  • Nude
  • Semele
Provenance

(sale, Paris, Nouveau Drouot, 11 March 1988, lot 79); (sale, London, Christie's, 6 July 1993, no. 141); (Succi Ltd., London); purchased by NGA, 1994.

NGA object ID 84667. 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.