Cinerary Urn, after the Antique

Cinerary Urn, after the Antique by Nicolas Poussin is a detailed study drawing, executed during the broad period when classical antiquity deeply informed European art. The work is classified as a drawing, created using a meticulous technique involving pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash, laid over an initial sketch in black chalk. This layering of media allows Poussin to define both the precise architectural structure and the subtle texture of the ancient stone funerary vessel. The drawing exemplifies the rigorous academic practice of studying classical artifacts firsthand, a foundational element of the French Baroque style Poussin pioneered.

The composition focuses on the highly ornamented urn, meticulously depicting the relief carvings that decorate its surface. The decorative frieze incorporates key classical motifs, including repeated stylized representations of Rams' heads, known traditionally as bucrania, which often symbolized sacrifice in Roman decorative art. Amidst the swirling ornament, the artist detailed human Faces, potentially portraits or generic representations of the deceased. Further visual interest is provided by avian figures, specifically Eagles and Chickens, integrated into the sculptural elements, likely carrying symbolic weight related to immortality or resurrection. Poussin’s precise handling of the wash successfully suggests the volumetric form and depth of the intricate carving.

As a master classicist, Poussin’s engagement with works like this Cinerary Urn, after the Antique was crucial for informing the historical accuracy and narrative depth of his great history paintings. This essential record of ancient forms demonstrates the artist's dedication to architectural and sculptural study. This important drawing resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. High-quality prints of this quintessential example of a Poussin drawing, reflecting the ongoing reverence for the Antique, are often made available through the institution's public domain and open-access initiatives.