Artwork
Figure Study
Figure Study is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Flaxman. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Figure Study is a graphite drawing created by John Flaxman in 1790. It exemplifies the artist's early work, characterized by a focus on form and line.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a single figure seated on a low stool, with the head tilted and hands resting on knees. The pose and relaxed execution suggest an exploratory study rather than a finished representation.
Technique & Style
Executed in graphite without shading or color, the drawing features light and loose lines, indicating a rapid sketch. This approach reveals Flaxman's interest in testing shapes and poses.
Context
Flaxman's work was influenced by his time in Rome and his association with Neoclassicism, although this drawing's loose style also anticipates elements of Romanticism.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was an English sculptor and draughtsman who was a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism.
Three Seated Figures
Two Seated Female Figures with Arms Lifted Overhead
Two sketches of a Chinese child![Sheet of Studies [recto and verso], by John Flaxman](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-flaxman--sheet-of-studies-recto-and-verso--af59e52d5279d768-w320.webp)
Sheet of Studies [recto and verso]
Preliminary Sketch for "The Passage" (La Traversee)
A cowherd and cow![A Female Nude [verso], by Domenico Tintoretto](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/domenico-tintoretto--a-female-nude-verso--26f16f952b7ade17-w320.webp)
A Female Nude [verso]
A figure seated beside a portrait, and other sketches
Statue of Cleopatra
Bearded Figure