Who painted Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child"?

Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child" was painted by Paul Cezanne in 1895.

Where can I see Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child"?

Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child"?

Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child" is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child"

Paul Cezanne , 1895

Study of Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child" is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Cézanne produced this graphite drawing around 1895 as a preparatory study of the Renaissance sculptor Desiderio da Settignano's "Bust of a Child." The work is executed on wove paper, allowing the artist to explore the form and line of the original marble sculpture through a monochrome medium.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing captures the delicate profile of a youthful figure, echoing the tender realism of Settignano's marble bust. By rendering the sculpture in graphite, Cézanne investigates the interplay of light and shadow on the child's features, emphasizing the timeless quality of the subject while probing his own interest in anatomical observation.

Technique & Style

Cézanne employs fine, controlled strokes to suggest the volume and texture of the stone without relying on color. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that supports subtle tonal gradations, allowing the artist to model the child's cheek and hair with layered hatching and cross-hatching typical of his late nineteenth-century drawing practice.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1895, the study reflects Cézanne's engagement with Renaissance masters during a period of intensive artistic research. The drawing has remained in private collections before entering a museum context, where it serves as evidence of the painter's methodical approach to studying historic sculpture as a source of formal inspiration.