Eight Studies of Nude Figures (recto); Figure Studies from the Antique and a Caricature (verso)

Eight Studies of Nude Figures (recto); Figure Studies from the Antique and a Caricature (verso) by Eugène Delacroix, executed between 1817 and 1830, is a masterful example of academic practice rendered in pen and iron gall ink. This drawing captures the crucial transitional phase of the artist's career, spanning his early academic training and his emergence as a pivotal figure of French Romanticism. The recto side is devoted entirely to dynamic figure studies, showcasing multiple poses of the nude male form. These rigorous anatomical explorations were essential exercises for any aspiring master, demonstrating Delacroix’s adherence to classical ideals of form and movement, even as his mature style began to diverge toward dramatic color and expressive emotion.

The verso side of this preparatory drawing reveals the variety typical of an artist's sketchbook. It presents a different kind of study, juxtaposing detailed Figure Studies from the Antique-likely derived from plaster casts of classical sculpture-with an informal, quickly sketched caricature. This combination illuminates the dual function of Delacroix's working drawings: a space for meticulous reference and a laboratory for spontaneous observation. The vigorous lines and dense hatch work inherent in the use of iron gall ink emphasize the draftsman's speed and confidence in capturing form. This valuable piece provides direct insight into the private working methods of Delacroix during the early 19th century. As a key drawing from this period, the work resides in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its historical significance and age, high-quality images and prints of this preparatory study are widely available through public domain archives.