Accession Number
85831
Medium
Graphite on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
26.3 × 14.5 cm (10 3/8 × 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
graphite
Credit Line
The Leonora Hall Gurley Memorial Collection
Background & Context
Background Story
Ascending Male Nude is a graphite drawing on ivory wove paper showing a male figure in an ascending pose, perhaps rising or flying upward. The figure is rendered with attention to the twist of the body and the articulation of the limbs in a pose that suggests upward movement. The graphite technique is precise and controlled.
Cultural Impact
The ascending figure was a common motif in Baroque and Rococo art, often used in ceiling frescoes to suggest spiritual ascent.
Why It Matters
This graphite drawing of an ascending male nude shows the study of the figure in dynamic motion typical of Baroque and Rococo art.
