Accession Number
81703
Medium
Black chalk on tan laid paper
Dimensions
32.7 × 14.2 cm (12 7/8 × 5 5/8 in.)
Classification
chalk
Credit Line
The Leonora Hall Gurley Memorial Collection
Background & Context
Background Story
Ascending Male Nude is a black chalk drawing on tan laid paper showing a male figure in an ascending pose. The figure is rendered with attention to the twist of the body and the articulation of the limbs. The black chalk medium on tan paper creates a soft, atmospheric effect. The subject of the ascending figure was a common motif in Baroque art.
Cultural Impact
Studies of ascending figures were essential for artists creating ceiling frescoes and religious compositions.
Why It Matters
This black chalk drawing of an ascending male nude shows the study of the figure in dynamic motion.
