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Source Description
This sheet is notable in its presentation of a woman, specifically one of Pierre-Paul Prud’hon’s favorite models, Marguerite—known for her curly hair and striking appearance. Following the artist’s death, more than 100 drawings were discovered in his studio, each portraying a closely studied nude figure like those shown here. The context of these works remains unclear: artists typically sketched from a model early in their training, but Prud’hon did so as a well-established painter. He saw drawing as a solitary practice, working consistently with white and black chalks on a paper described by one critic as “moonlit blue.”
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
136824
label
Study of a Male Nude (verso)
core
obj
dtoType
drawing
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
136824
contentType
drawing
title
Study of a Male Nude (verso)
description
This sheet is notable in its presentation of a woman, specifically one of Pierre-Paul Prud’hon’s favorite models, Marguerite—known for her curly hair and striking appearance. Following the artist’s death, more than 100 drawings were discovered in his studio, each portraying a closely studied nude figure like those shown here. The context of these works remains unclear: artists typically sketched from a model early in their training, but Prud’hon did so as a well-established painter. He saw drawing as a solitary practice, working consistently with white and black chalks on a paper described by one critic as “moonlit blue.”
date
c. 1810
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80031007
creators
1646
genreSpecific
Drawing
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Sheet: 61.9 x 43.6 cm (24 3/8 x 17 3/16 in.)
cul
France, 19th century
accession
1961.318.b
Source extras
tec
black and white chalk (both stumped)
tombstone
Study of a Male Nude (verso), c. 1810. Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (French, 1758–1823). Black and white chalk (both stumped); sheet: 61.9 x 43.6 cm (24 3/8 x 17 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1961.318.b
supportMaterials
description
blue laid paper
collection
DR - French
inscriptions
inscription
ON SEPERATELY APPLIED PIECES OF PAPER (now removed), printed in black ink: WALTER S. M. BURNS, ESQ. / To be Sold on giving up his Residence at 50, Grosvenor Street, W. / Sale - Sotheby [inscribed in black ink] / DAY OF SALE / Thursday, May 6th, 1926. ; printed in black ink: PIERRE PRUD'HON. / 134 Study of a Nude Woman seated looking to the Right / Black and white chalk on blue paper / 24 in. by 16 3/4 in. (610 mm. by 425 mm.) ; printed in black ink: 2.026
didYouKnow
Pierre-Paul Prud'hon was raised in the Cluny abbey by monks, who recognized and encouraged his artistic talent as a boy.
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:59:00.272000
sourceId
136824
dept
Drawings
coll
DR - French
med
black and white chalk (both stumped)
creatorTags
male
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
91054dae35c9259c